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Sounds of the world : the real Colombia is not forgotten

Cet article en anglais est le résultat d’un projet collaboratif entre #AuxSons et Alejandro Abbud Torres Torija, professeur à Sciences Po Paris Campus Reims, et contributeur régulier d’#AuxSons. Dans le cadre du cours “Sons du monde : la musique comme miroir de l’intime et du collectif” des étudiants internationaux de Sciences Po Paris Campus Reims se sont penchés sur les liens entre musiques des quatre coins du monde et enjeux sociopolitiques. 

This article is a result of a collaborative project between #AuxSons and Alejandro Abbud Torres Torija, lecturer at Sciences Po Paris Campus Reims, and regular contributor to #AuxSons. As part of the class “Sounds of the world : Music as mirror of the intimate and the collective”, international students from Sciences Po Paris Campus Reims prepared articles presenting contemporary music from different parts of the world in connection with recent socio-political events.

 

Recently, Colombia has been suffering from an economic crisis heightened by the pandemic. With unemployment as high as 17% and a fiscal deficit, the government undertook a new tax reform. In recent weeks, citizens took the streets in protest, which have evolved into a national strike. Despite the violences and despair, Colombians are sending around the world a message of strength and hope. One of these voices is Lido Pimienta, singing from the other side of the continent.

Born in Barranquilla, a city in the Colombian Atlantic coast, Lido grew up surrounded by music, with the cumbia and Afro sounds from her father’s side and indigenous melodies from her mother’s. She then moved to Canada, where she has lived most of her life.

Lido Pimienta is the part of Colombia not usually heard of, far away from the winners of beauty pageants or other Colombian musicians. She represents the frequently ignored Afro-Colombian population, and the Wayuu indigenous tribe from the peninsula of la Guajira. She is a queer plastic artist, curator, women and mother. And all of this is portrayed in her Grammy nominated album, Miss Colombia.

 

Nada, one song from the album focuses on her experience as a woman and the pain of natural labor. It is a hymn to all Colombian women who are being taken for granted. Her whole album Miss Colombia breaks the usual over-romantization that an immigrant has towards their country once they leave it, and breaks the usual boundaries of reality portrayed in music.

 

Her album was released just before the pandemic took over the world. As every other artist, her concerts and plans got canceled. But even through the obstacles her main goal has been reached: have her music support and help listeners. Especially throughout the past year’s struggles and now with the current Colombian situation.

Her message is an ode to the mothers struggling during these times, and their strength within the sexist latin culture. With the recent protests that have shaken Colombia the past weeks, she never ceases to voice her support and puts international pressure on the abuses and human rights violations being committed.

Throughout her music, she offers a safe place, peace and calm to the Colombian population. Not only through her already created music, but she does lives in her social media accounts singing lullabies to her baby. That way people can receive some comfort during these difficult times and mothers can work together to put their babies to bed despite the situation. Her voice is a message of hope and calm between the storm.

 

the author : 

Isabella Ospina is a Colombian student in Sciences Po Paris - Campus of Reims. Currently taking the Economics and Society major, she has always been interested in social issues and the interactions and dynamics of individuals. She studied music from a young age at a government program, increasing her sense of belonging and her interest on the influence of music in society.

 

 

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