An Afro-Colombian Drum Lesson with Batámbora

Bring the rhythm of the Colombian Caribbean to your home with whatever bucket, bin, or box you have lying around for a lesson in Afro-Colombian drumbeats.

In the fishing village of La Boquilla, drum and dance is deeply embedded in the bloodstream of the locals. The village began as a palenque, or a place runaway slaves found freedom during the colonial era in Cartagena. Hidden in the mangroves, the Spanish never found them and their African traditions and culture fortunately prevailed. Batámbora, the funding arm of the local music school Tambores de Cabildo, exists to make sure those traditions continue to thrive and be celebrated by future generations of Boquilleros.

The Story Behind Batámbora

Long before Batámbora found its start, Tambores de Cabildo opened its doors in La Boquilla as a free after-school program for La Boquilla’s youth. The hope was that by offering kids a space to bang a few drums and dance champeta together, they’d be less likely to partake in the then rampant drug consumption, early pregnancies, and crime plaguing the community. Equally as important was reminding La Boquilla’s youngest of their African ancestry and fading traditions. Batámbora came along to help keep this program going financially through drum workshops for tourists, paid drumming gigs in the city, and the sale of handmade African drums, all of which depend on the now nonexistent tourism. Your donation is helping to keep the Tambores de Cabildo youth and their families fed and supported through the quarantine. Haven’t donated yet? No problem. Here’s the link.

Meet Batámbora’s Founder and Hear the Rhythms of the Colombian Caribbean

Grab your drum. Class is in session.

With Yoel and his son Yohan to guide you through the techniques and rhythms of the Afro-Colombian musical tradition, you’ll be drumming like a La Boquilla local in no time.

Support a Local Tour Operator

Alternative Travel Cartagena offers a Drum Workshop experience with Batámbora. The tour gives you a crash course in drum theory, lets you sit back and watch the masters play, and then hands the drums over to you to give it a whirl yourself. While tourism’s on pause, Alternative Travel Cartagena is offering the option to advance purchase their Drum Workshop gift card-style, meaning you pay now and cash in later when you (or a friend) books that trip to this Caribbean gem. If you happen to never visit, consider it a donation to a worthy tour operator that needs help staying afloat and a project keeping Afro-Colombian music tradition alive in Cartagena. Sign up for the tour by filling out this form.

On behalf of Batámbora, thank you for your support!

If you feel called to make a donation to support Batámbora, please do so by tapping that button below!