African Americans Connecting with Afro-Colombians

An African-American organization known as the Black Heritage Riders (BHR) is fulfilling a dream that I've always had about my own Latin-American experience, and that is reaching out to connect with blacks in the various Latin-American countries I visit, particularly Peru and Ecuador where I have established a significant personal connections.

My dream is to retire in a Spanish-speaking country and offer whatever assistance I can as I make myself apart of their black community. I often thought of the idea of teaching English and becoming a member of a black self-empowerment organization.

Recently the BHR established a foundation in Cali, Colombia that implements community-based English language training and academic instruction along with other educational enrichment resources to give Afro-Colombian youth living in impoverished communities a better opportunity to improve their lives and overcome the overwhelming challenges of obtaining employment.  

Their goal is to empower Afro-Colombian children with the skills and tools necessary to meet their physiological needs which include their desire for personal safety and social affiliation; to assist in building character, developing self-esteem, and ultimately helping them to reach the point of self-actualization. BHR is assisting Afro-Colombian communities with eliminating violence and promoting higher education.

Black Heritage Riders website

The World's Salsa Music Capital

Cali,
Colombia

After having grown up in New York City where salsa music was born right after the beginning of U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, Puerto Rican New Yorkers like Tito Puente, Willie Colón, and Ray Barretto  continued the legacy of Cuban music, called “Latin” by many, and improvised using Puerto Rican bomba and plena music, jazz, and even some R&B to create what we know today as salsa music.

Salsa is Spanish for “sauce,” and the improvisations by Puerto Rican musicians was like putting sauce on an original dish. Of course, New York City has been the capital of salsa music for decades. 

Then other genres of Latin music gained in popularity in New York, such as merengue and bachata with the influx of immigrants from the Dominica Republic, and of course, reggaetón; very popular among young Latinos. 

New York City has been described by a friend as a melting pot for musical styles. In the film Cantante, meaning singer, which is about the late salsa music megastar Hector Lavoe, there was a scene when Lavoe was told by maestro Willie Colón that he needs to show the world that salsa music still rules, despite the influx of other Latin music genres, and it turned out that his concerts were not filled to capacity as before. 

I've heard people claim Los Angeles and Miami as salsa music capitals. Even several publications like Latin Beat Magazine was published in Los Angeles. 

When I went to Havana, Cuba, I was in salsa music heaven, but timba music reigned supreme. I was so surprised that Havana didn't even have a salsa music radio station. Recently, I was reading an article in a black Colombian magazine called Ébano, Spanish for Ebony, stating that Cali is the salsa music capital, and it makes perfect sense. 

My former supervisor at work, who is Colombian, knew that I was planning a trip to Colombia and that I love salsa, highly recommended that I visit Cali. Considering that three of my favorite salsa bands, Grupo Niche, Grupo Caneo, and Sonora Carruseles are from Cali, my supervisor hit a hot button with me.

In Cali, these days, people assert that salsa music moves millions as it is Cali's greatest tourist product and is an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric.  A New York journalist visiting Cali says salsa music is a way of life, a day hardly went by without her hearing it. The owner of one of the most reputable dance schools in the city, Rucafé, has been involved in 33 international salsa congresses, and has seen Cali evolve into a world power of salsa music. 

Below, salsa music megastar Oscar De Leon, of Venezuela, sung one of his biggest hits... Yo “Me Voy Pa' Cali (I'M GOING TO CALI).”