Caracas, June 21, 2024 – The Culture and Politics Conference began this Friday, the second day of the Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity, an event that brings together artistic groups from the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Africa and the Caribbean.

Along with his singing and Barbados drums, cultural ambassador Anthony Carter highlighted that each beat carries expressions of culture and politics, as well as the voices of peoples defending their identity and sovereignty.

Additionally, he mentioned that Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean are one people, cultural brothers.

Similarly, Bouna Mbaye, coordinator of the Pan-African League-Umoja from Benin, expressed that music promotes unity “and together we can achieve everything”.

“This is a historic encounter in the history of solidarity (…) It is the first time I have had the opportunity to connect with people from Barbados, Saint Lucia, and different parts of the world,” Mbaye added.

For the coordinator of the Pan-African League-Umoja, it is necessary to abandon silence and apathy, and use music to raise the message of revolution and freedom.

Finally, he condemned the genocide in Gaza and called on the entire world, especially artists, to denounce this crime.

The closing of the Culture and Politics Conference was led by Venezuelan researcher Argenis Delgado, who affirmed that the ALBA Drums Festival is essential for strengthening cultural integration.

“To talk about culture and politics from the Afro perspective necessarily involves the drum, the ancestral messenger instrument. It is the healing instrument, without the drum, who knows what would happen to us,” he stated.

He emphasized that the drum is what ignites the spark of revolutions. “Haiti is our main reference… The first example of rebellion begins with the drum,” he highlighted.

For Delgado, music is part of politics and is essential for elevating the message of sovereignty and Afro-descendants. The researcher proposed organizing an ALBA meeting with indigenous leaders, as well as reissuing the Afro-descendant Festival of the Alliance.

From June 20 to June 23, Venezuela, a member country of the Alliance, was hosting the ‘Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity event, a celebration that included conferences and musical performances from participating countries.

Additionally, cultural groups will visit various states of Venezuela in the context of the Day of Spirituality on June 22 and the festive cycle of San Juan Bautista.