The Embassy of Colombia in the United States marks Afro-Colombian Heritage Day with a musical tribute

To commemorate Afro-Colombian Heritage Day, the Embassy of Colombia in the United States hosted a cultural evening that celebrated the richness and diversity of Afro-Colombian traditions through a performance by the renowned ensemble Colombia Negra.

Held during the visit to Washington of the National Association of Mayors of Municipalities with Afro-Colombian Populations (AMUNAFRO), the event underscored the central place of Afro-Colombian heritage in the nation’s past and future.

“Afro-Colombian music is living memory, resistance, and creation,” said Ambassador Daniel García-Peña. “Celebrating it in Washington is also a way of affirming its vital role in shaping the soul of our country—past, present, and future.”

Founded by Esperanza Biohó, Colombia Negra has spent more than four decades safeguarding and showcasing the artistic traditions of Afro-Colombian communities. Their work interweaves ancestral rhythms with contemporary influences—drawing on the sounds of the biogeographic Chocó, Colombia’s southern Pacific coast, and the Caribbean—to shape a distinct and powerful Afro-Colombian musical identity.

More than a commemoration, the event reaffirmed the Colombian government’s commitment to recognising Afro-Colombian cultural legacies and their essential role in building a more inclusive, plural, and just society.