A new tradition to grow in Berlin: the Afro-Colombian bullerengue, an emancipatory practice open to all. HKW welcomes those doing anti-racist, intersectional, feminist, queer activism to take part in a series of music & dance workshops, accompanied by live drumming, and facilitated by artists maintaining this ancestral tradition within their communities.

Immediately after the opening weekend, HKW sets in motion the hosting of communitarian rhythmic cultures. Starting with bullerengue, a family of rhythms descending from West Africa that developed and remains alive in the Colombian Caribbean and the Darién Province in Panama. Bullerengue is practised in ruedas, or circles, in which participants unify their voices through the repetition of mantra-like choruses that evoke elevation and power. Through a storytelling format of call-and-response, and an improvisatory practice of collective music making and dancing, these bailes cantados—sung dances—activate mutual awareness and a sense of connection and belonging. Preserved by elderly women within spaces of intergenerational care and knowledge transmission, bullerengue is founded on forms of spirituality and philosophy used for centuries as tools for healing and resilience. Today, its practice culturally affirms and upholds the histories of resistance rooted in the Afro-diasporic community.

There will be drums resonating throughout HKW—join in with clapping, singing, dancing or playing.

The workshops will be led by tamboleros (drummers), cantadoras (singers) and bailadores (dancers) from San Basilio de Palenque and Palenque de Chucunate, Turbo, Colombia; co-facilitated and accompanied by the London-based pedagogical project Bullerengue Circle (Esteban Card & Valeria Pacific).

With dedicated time supporting those interested in developing a bullerengue music practice, including monthly online follow-ups, and the opportunity to play at the closing rueda during the last day of the exhibition O Quilombismo. Of Resisting and Insisting. Of Flight as Fight. Of Other Democratic Egalitarian Political Philosophies. Instruments will be available for rehearsal at HKW during the time of the exhibition.

Info

The workshop will be in English. Spanish with German-language assistance possible.

Childcare is available during the time of the workshops.

Limited number of participants. Ongoing registration possible. 

If you are interested, please email bullerengue@hkw.de with the subject ‘Participation’, after which you will receive further information.

Dates

5 June, 18:00–21:00 Franklin Tejedor ‘Lamparita’ (member of Estrellas del Caribe & Mitú)

6 June, 18:00–21:00 Bullerengue Circle

2 July, 16:00–19:00 Álvaro Llerena Martínez (son of famous cantadora Petrona Martínez)

30 July, 16:00–19:00 Bullerengue Circle 

16 September, 16:00–18:00 Bullerengue & Afro-Colombian Dance Practice with Yarley Escudero ‘El Happy’ & Dely Prem

17 September, 16:00–18:00 Emelina Reyes Salgado ‘La Burgos’, Franklin Hernández ‘Lukumí’, Yarley Escudero ‘El Happy’ & Dely Prem

17 September, 19:30 Rueda de Bullerengue / Closing of the exhibition
with Emelina Reyes Salgado ‘La Burgos’, Franklin Hernández ‘Lukumí’, Yarley Escudero ‘El Happy’, Dely Prem, Bullerengue Circle and participants of the workshops

Produced by Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), with support from the Colombian Embassy in Berlin.

Contributors

Yarley Escudero (El Happy), Franklin Hernandez (Lukumi), Alvaro Llerena, Dely Prem, Emelina Reyes (La Burgos), Franklin Tejedor