CHOCQUIBTOWN: Young Voices Shattering Afro-Colombian Invisibility

Authors

  • Sandra M. Gaviria-Buck University of Alberta

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/md16974

Abstract

In the past two years an Afrocolombian hip-hop band from the Pacific region of Colombia has been getting a lot of attention in the media, especially after winning a Latin Grammy Award in 2010 and being nominated to several categories of the Grammy Music Awards in 2011 and 2012.  In their lyrics, they claim to represent the black population of the Pacific coast, people of African descent who have traditionally lived in marginalized conditions of poverty and exploitation of different sorts.  By borrowing some insights from African American criticism, the afrocentricity in Choquibtown's songs is explored.  Additionally, through a postcolonialist approach, this band's musical production is analyzed as a voice of widespread racism and as means of resistance to political and cultural oppression.

 

Author Biography

Sandra M. Gaviria-Buck, University of Alberta

M.A. student in Translation Studies at the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at University of Alberta. Her research project consists of translation from English into Spanish of the book of essays "Calm Things" by Edmonton writer Shawna Lemay.  Some of her interests are translation of poetic language, Latin American literature and culture.

Contact: gaviriab@ualberta.ca

 

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Published

2012-11-12