Drums of Libertad

An Afro-Colombian community in the Caribbean, the scourge of violence, a process of collective reparation, and cultural leaders brimming with spirit and creativity—in Libertad, a rural area of San Onofre on the northern coast of Colombia, the revitalization of traditional music has been a powerful tool for repairing the damage caused by armed conflict. From children to the elderly, everyone works together to make the dream of peace a reality.

Drums of Libertad explores this process of community building, bringing together bullerengue, hip-hop, and traditional song-games to demonstrate how they facilitate social cohesion, cooperation, and the construction of a strong Afro-Colombian identity. Author Juan Sebastián Rojas E. presents a novel methodology by posing critical debates around the roles of art, culture, and applied scholarship in peacebuilding efforts. Embracing a collaborative research agenda, Rojas E. illuminates the lifeways and experiences of individual artists and activists in Caribbean Colombia and, at the same time, explores local revivals of Afro-diasporic music practices as peacebuilding initiatives through the lens of grassroots leadership.

A vibrant contribution to the development of South American ethnomusicology, Drums of Libertad shows us how local musical cultures, the social networks of community leaders, and the creative resilience of socially engaged musicians interact to spark the reconstruction of communal ties through affect and empathy.