Colombia’s Musical Power Sounds Through Guapi’s Tough Times

Music gives hope in Guapi, a small town in Colombia’s Cauca region. It shows the strength of the people. Violence and conflict surround the area. Yet, Afro-Colombian rhythms from marimbas and alabaos fill the air. They bring the community courage. These sounds act as a potent force against difficulties. They celebrate life through music. They give a voice to the spirit and life thriving in Guapi. Life blooms there.

The Heartbeat of Guapi’s Afro-Colombian Spirit

The sound of marimbas fills the air, accompanied by soulful harmonies, as a crowd gathers in Guapi’s church for a concert unlike any other. Just weeks earlier, this sacred space bore the scars of violence when explosives targeted the nearby police station, damaging the church. Today, it pulses with joy and defiance. The Afro-Colombian group Remanso Pacífico leads a celebration of hope.  

“Today, Guapi stands as a place of life,” declares a singer from the group. These words express the spirit of a community. ‍Their decision not to be defined by violence brings them together. It’s a refusal. The concert belongs to the International Sacred Music Festival’s tour, a cultural effort to inspire towns like Guapi through spiritual and musical shows. People call the festival “Colombia is Sacred Music,” it gathers different musical traditions from all over the country, nurturing unity and hope.

Music is more than an art form for Guapi and the Afro-Colombian Pacific region. It is a survival mechanism rooted in centuries of resilience against slavery, systemic neglect, and armed conflict. The rhythms, inherited from African ancestors, carry the stories of people who have endured and resisted oppression.

Made in the Pacific

The leader of Remanso Pacífico, Alexis Castaño, describes himself as both spiritual and festive. He founded the group in 2009 to preserve and celebrate the musical traditions passed down by his ancestors. “Whenever there’s a feast for a saint, our grandparents would always sing lullabies and hold dances,” explains Castaño. These ancestral celebrations intertwine spirituality with the joyful energy of Afro-Colombian culture.

Unlike Gregorian chants or European sacred music, the Afro-Colombian expression of faith is a dynamic blend of rhythms like the currulao, alabao, and afrojuga. These rhythms, born from fishing rituals, labor songs, and festive gatherings, are brought to life with instruments like marimbas, leather drums, and bombo. “The enslaved Africans brought the memory of these instruments with them,” Castaño shares. “The marimba, with its melodic tones, brings the sound of the forest to life.”

During performances, musicians’ bodies mirror the rhythm, and singers sway their hips with the beat. Their music reaches a peak in songs like Guapireño Soy. This song firmly declares that “the land is not for war.” These words express pride in their roots and refusal of violence.

Castaño describes their music as both a celebration and a healing power. “This music brings to mind everything we’ve endured—mistreatment, displacement—but it also reminds us to love and forgive,” he says. The transformative impact of this cultural expression is evident in the healing it brings to the community.

A Region Defined by Conflict and Resilience

Guapi, like much of Colombia’s Pacific region, is geographically isolated, surrounded by dense jungles, and accessible only by river or air. This isolation leaves the area open to neglect, fighting, and illegal trade. For many decades, Cauca has been a hot spot for violence. Armed groups such as FARC dissidents and other unlawful organizations try to take control. They fight for control.

Ana Milena Grueso, Guapi’s mayor, knows about the ongoing security problems. “Yes, armed groups are in the area,” she mentions concerning recent events, like the bombing that rattled the town’s central plaza. Two attackers lost their lives. A police officer sustained injuries. The church and other buildings nearby got damaged.

The town has struggled with illegal coca growing and its trade for more than twenty years. This situation has not only disrupted the peace of the community but also led to increased violence and social instability. Grueso says this situation changed the peace of the community. Still, people in Guapi are taking back their lives and slowly rebuilding trust. However, moving away from nearby villages continues to show the presence of conflict.  

In this chaos, music offers a safe place and a strong voice. Music gives strength. Residents mention “resilience and resistance,” finding solace in the rhythms of their ancestors. Performances like those of Remanso Pacífico remind the community of the “message of reconciliation and love” that keeps their spirits alive.

Music as a Testament to Survival

The roots of Guapi’s music trace back to Africa, where enslaved people brought their instruments and their spiritual connection to sound. Over centuries, these traditions turned into distinct Afro-Colombian styles. The alabao, a spiritual funeral song and the currulao, a rhythm celebrating community life, show the changing power of this music.

These traditions also act as defiance. Music gives a voice for healing and speaking out in a region marked by conflict. Remanso Pacífico’s shows call for action, encouraging communities to reject violence. They ask people to embrace unity. “Our music says we are here, we are alive,” says one of the group’s singers. This message is essential. We are alive.

The changing power of this music can bring people together, even during tragedy. The concert in Guapi, held before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, attracted residents who danced, sang, and celebrated despite the reminders of violence around them. In these moments, the music fosters a sense of togetherness and hope, uniting the community in their shared resilience.

Reviving Hope Through Cultural Legacy

For Guapi’s residents, music is both a preservation of culture and a path to healing. Groups like Remanso Pacífico are not just performers but custodians of a rich Afro-Colombian heritage. Their songs hold history and share memories of struggle and victory. “Every beat of the marimba and every note of the alabao tells us we come from strength,” says Castaño. In a town still healing from wounds, these rhythms provide more than comfort. They give hope.

Also Read: Colombian Artists Revive Holiday Spirit with Chucu Chucu Rhythms

Colombia moves closer to peace. The music of Guapi and the wider Pacific area shows the strong spirit of the people. Their voices rise in tough times. Hope never fails to return.