Author: Gabriela Blanco

Drums of ALBA: music is the weapon for the freedom of peoples against imperialism

Posted on

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 […]

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.

Drum Woman: A feminine expression of ALBA

Posted on

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The afternoon session of the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our Identity” event — which began this Thursday in Venezuela — featured the conference “Drum Woman” which addressed the influence of women in the culture of the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ […]

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The afternoon session of the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our Identity” event — which began this Thursday in Venezuela — featured the conference “Drum Woman” which addressed the influence of women in the culture of the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Latin America, Africa, and the entire Caribbean.

Ivonne Thompson, musical director of Herencia Mujer Tambor (Venezuela), indicated that the drum is an ancestral language that unites women with the same needs for sisterhood.

“I discovered the use of the drum to express a feeling. Being a musical director is a continuous learning process, and I feel committed to make people feel through an instrument, because we are souls, women players united by music,” expressed Thompson.

She said that throughout history, the drum has been dominated by men “and we, women can also play from this feminine being. The tan-tan are the heartbeats, the drum is the womb of that woman from which life emerges (…) We don’t want to play louder than men; we want to create poetry.”

“Playing the drum makes us free”

On the other hand, Sixela Machado, singer of the Elegguá group, also from Venezuela, stated that women in drumming have been growing and overcoming the prejudices of a macho society.

“The revolutionary process has come to reclaim the value and prominence of women in Venezuela (…) Women are not to be used as sexual objects; we are the creation to give life, and in drumming, we come to create family. We don’t have to be behind men on a stage (…) Playing the drum makes us free,” affirmed Machado from the Bolívar Theater in Caracas.

Cuban Drums

“The drum is life, joy, just like women are; it is elegance, it is fraternal, and Afro-descendant women in Cuba have always been involved in the struggles, we have always been warriors,” stated Geraldine Gallardo, singer and percussionist of the Camagüey Folkloric Ballet.

She mentioned that it is the woman who is always present and organizing the ceremonies: “women have grown and believe that we are very important; there are many women around the world doing wonderful things with the drums, because the drum is freedom, the drum opens everything for you.”

She also said that percussion is the heart of music on all continents, starting with Africa.

Musicality and ALBA

Finally, Meybe Ugueto, a member of the Trama Danza Collective (Venezuela), explained that the drum is also a “political instrument”.

According to Ugueto, the drums, the alliance, and trade were sacralized through the drum with this gathering. “Thinking about the drum within the Alliance for the Peoples of Our America and the role of women is a blessing”, she added.

African presence in our Latin America and the Caribbean opened the conferences of “Drums of ALBA”

Posted on

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The conference “African presence in our Latin America and the Caribbean” was the opening session of the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our Identity” event, which began this Thursday in Venezuela. Venezuelan writer and historian José Marcial Ramos Guedez highlighted that cultural identity is a central topic in the country’s […]

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The conference “African presence in our Latin America and the Caribbean” was the opening session of the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our Identity” event, which began this Thursday in Venezuela.

Venezuelan writer and historian José Marcial Ramos Guedez highlighted that cultural identity is a central topic in the country’s cultural debates, as well as the African influences.

He pointed out that Venezuelan culture includes traditions from Cuba, as well as Catholic festivities such as San Juan Bautista, Diablos Danzantes del Corpus Christi, among other celebrations.

‘Here in Venezuela, we also use terms like Afro-descendants, Afro-Venezuelans, in order to combat discrimination,’ emphasized Guedez.

Afro-descendant economic contribution

Roy Arzú, from the Pan-African Federalist Movement of Honduras, asserted that “the economic structure is the result of the sacrifice and contribution of Afro-descendants over the last 500 years”.

He highlighted that part of the wealth of capitalist nations “is built on the blood of our Afro-descendants (…) We also include our Haitian brothers and sisters”.

The conference concluded with a participation by Raymond Weekes, a cultural researcher from Saint Lucia, who emphasized the importance of ancestral music in the development of each nation’s identity.

This Thursday afternoon, the event will be filled with drums, rhythms, and songs to celebrate the integration of Latin American, African, and Caribbean cultures.

Jorge Arreaza: ALBA is like the drum; it makes us rebel against oppression

Posted on

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – “We will follow the paths marked by our own drums with our rhythms. ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty) is like the drum, it makes us rebel us against oppression, against injustice, and it confirms that we were born together and that only together we […]

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – “We will follow the paths marked by our own drums with our rhythms. ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples’ Trade Treaty) is like the drum, it makes us rebel us against oppression, against injustice, and it confirms that we were born together and that only together we can be happy.”

This was expressed by the Executive Secretary of the Alliance on Thursday during the inauguration of the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our Identity” event, which is being held in Venezuela from June 20 to 23.

In his speech, Arreaza emphasized that this is a celebration not only for music but also for the exchange of knowledge and culture among the countries of ALBA, as well as the Latin American, Caribbean, and African regions.

“We are all Afro-descendants. The drums and their beats are a call to consciousness; the drums heal, warn, direct (…) In the cultural code of Mother Africa, their origins beat and unite us towards the future,” he highlighted.

He also recalled that ALBA is the creation of Hugo Chávez Frías and Fidel Castro. “Our commanders created ALBA like the drum, because they united us to walk together, for integration.”

Arreaza stated: “If we do not integrate our heritages, if we do not embrace them, if we do not dance together, that integration will be little more than nothing. ALBA is the daughter of Simón Bolívar, and Bolívar belongs to all of us.”

Jorge Arreaza welcomed the member countries of the Alliance and all the nations that have come to share their tradition and cultural expression to this celebration.

Countries from the bloc attending the event include: Cuba, Bolivia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, among other guests such as Benin, Colombia, and Honduras.

“Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” event began in Caracas

Posted on

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” started this Thursday at the Bolívar Theater in Caracas, Venezuela. This event serves as a platform to highlight the ancestral culture of the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP). The event […]

Caracas, June 20, 2024. – The “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” started this Thursday at the Bolívar Theater in Caracas, Venezuela. This event serves as a platform to highlight the ancestral culture of the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).

The event brings together more than 400 participants, including musical groups and speakers from Venezuela, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Benin, Grenada, Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, among other countries and special guests.

This festival, which will take place until June 23, was opened with a musical performance by the Venezuelan group ‘Herencia Wifi’, followed by Mighty Gabby, cultural ambassador of Barbados, and the group ‘Skin Rhythm’ from Saint Lucia.

Similarly, various conferences were scheduled for Thursday and Friday, including: African Presence in Our Latin America and the Caribbean; Culture and Politics; Caribbean Identity and Spirituality; Economy and Cultural Tourism; and Caribbean Intellectualism.

The event’s program includes morning conferences followed by concerts and drum performances from various groups such as Tambor y Gloria (Venezuela), The Paix-Bouche Drummers (Dominica), Herencia WiFi (Venezuela), Les Espoirs Group (Benin, Africa), Hells Gate Steel Orchestra (Antigua and Barbuda), Drum Foundation (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), among others.

To celebrate the Feast of San Juan in the Bolivarian country and to facilitate cultural exchange among the different cultures present, the event includes visits to several states in Venezuela (Miranda, La Guaira, Carabobo, Aragua, and the Capital District), as well as a Spirituality Day procession in Caracas on June 22.

Nicaragua condemns Citgo theft from Venezuela

Posted on

Caracas, June 18, 2024.- The Government of Nicaragua, a member country of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), denounced the colonialist and imperialist policies of the United States against Venezuela and the peoples of the region. In a press release, the Nicaraguan Executive warned that the U.S. Government continues […]

Caracas, June 18, 2024.- The Government of Nicaragua, a member country of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), denounced the colonialist and imperialist policies of the United States against Venezuela and the peoples of the region.

In a press release, the Nicaraguan Executive warned that the U.S. Government continues to plunder the resources of the people, “and in this case, the resources of our Venezuelan brothers with the illegal and illicit seizure of the Petroleum Company, CITGO”.

“We condemn once again these absurd outrages that reflect an invariable American behavior that has done, and continues to do, so much harm to the world and the community,” the press release reads.

The President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, and his Vice President Rosario Murillo, on behalf of the Nicaraguan people, sent Venezuela a fraternal message of solidarity.

This week, the U.S. administration, with the support of the Venezuelan right wing, seized CITGO Company.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, affirmed that this robbery was “orchestrated by the Government of the United States, Leopoldo López, Juan Guaidó, Julio Borges and the neo-fascist class of surnames, which is why Venezuela will not recognize any type of fraudulent operation”.

Ernesto Che Guevara: a revolutionary man who is always born in ALBA

Posted on

Caracas, June 14, 2024.- Every June 14, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) commemorates the birth of the revolutionary, journalist, doctor, and Cuban-Argentine politician Ernesto Che Guevara. “Che”, as he was known worldwide, was born in Rosario de Santa Fe (Argentina) on June 14, 1928; however, he was naturalized […]

Caracas, June 14, 2024.- Every June 14, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) commemorates the birth of the revolutionary, journalist, doctor, and Cuban-Argentine politician Ernesto Che Guevara.

“Che”, as he was known worldwide, was born in Rosario de Santa Fe (Argentina) on June 14, 1928; however, he was naturalized as a Cuban citizen in 1960. Guevara joined the Cuban Revolution as another son of that homeland.

Ernesto Che Guevara studied medicine, was one of the architects of the Cuban Revolution, and held high-responsibility positions in the organization of the Cuban economy during the early revolutionary years.

Additionally, he served as an ambassador of the Revolution in several countries. In 1965, he resigned from all his positions in the Cuban government and returned to the guerrilla, first in the Congo and later in Bolivia.

Both his actions and his works continue to live on in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the peoples of the world remember him as a man of personality, consistent in his words and actions.

“His thought became the struggle of every young person who today fights with the same ethics and dignity against the aggressions of U.S. imperialism,” highlighted the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, in 2019.

ALBA Drums will beat in Venezuela from June 20

Posted on

Caracas, June 11, 2024. – From June 20 to 23, the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” will be held at Bolívar Square in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. It is a space to highlight the brotherhood and cultural identity of the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America […]

Caracas, June 11, 2024. – From June 20 to 23, the “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” will be held at Bolívar Square in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela.

It is a space to highlight the brotherhood and cultural identity of the countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), as well as a meeting place for solidarity.

The event will feature conferences on Caribbean identity and spirituality, culture and politics, economy and cultural tourism, among other regional topics.

The Drums of ALBA is the first cultural space created by the Alliance to strengthen the common identity among its member countries through homage, debate, and reflection on the African culture influence in the territories of the bloc.

The countries that make up the regional bloc are attending this event: Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.

Benin, Haiti, Honduras, Colombia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay will also be present as guests.

This meeting will also be an opportunity to experience the traditional drum rhythms of Venezuela, such as those from Naiguatá (La Guaira state), Curiepe (Miranda), Tamunangue from Lara, drums from Guárico, and other cultural celebrations.

The event includes visits to different places in Venezuela to promote cultural exchange, as well as a Spirituality Day procession on June 22nd in Caracas.

ALBA-TCP proposes action lines for the Risk and Disaster Management System in the region

Posted on

Caracas, June 11, 2024. – Defining an action line for risk and disaster management was the main point of a videoconference held this Tuesday by the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP). The meeting was held in order to agree on different ways to […]

Caracas, June 11, 2024. – Defining an action line for risk and disaster management was the main point of a videoconference held this Tuesday by the member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP).

The meeting was held in order to agree on different ways to combat the effects of climate change, as well as to keep populations prepared for any environment-related situation.

The Executive Secretary of the Alliance, Jorge Arreaza, reminded that it is essential to develop a Risk and Disaster Management System for the ALBA countries, an initiative that was approved at the last Summit of the regional bloc, held in April 2024.

In the videoconference, Arreaza stated that ALBA must focus on this system, as well as “evaluate the possibilities that we have to organize ourselves”.

On the other hand, Cuba and Venezuela offered to conduct training workshops about natural disasters, taking into account prevention mechanisms, population responses, and the creation of school brigades.

Additionally, Antigua and Barbuda emphasized the need to establish shelters for unexpected natural events that could affect families in more vulnerable countries.

They also raised the necessity of creating collection centers to support member countries of the bloc affected by climatic effects such as floods, droughts, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, among others.

Emergency fund for disaster response

Raúl Li Causi, President of the Executive Board of the Bank of ALBA, proposed the need to create an operational manual for addressing climate-related cases and a mapping of the most vulnerable areas.

He also pointed out that “from the Bank of ALBA, we provide resources for emergency care”.

To this end, the creation of an emergency fund was proposed, managed by the Bank of ALBA, which would allow Heads of State and Government to make a quick use of resources for decision-making in emergency situations.

ALBA-TCP Cooperation Agency and Other Proposals

It is expected that on July 25, the ALBA-TCP Cooperation Agency will be established in Caracas, which could have funds allocated for the study of risk situations, among other topics.

“We are one people, brothers of ALBA (…) the goal is to create a system that we can articulate internationally (…) the education of the people is also fundamental”, Arreaza stated at the end of the meeting.

The 10 countries of the Alliance supported the creation of this system to protect the peoples of the member countries.

ALBA-TCP Executive Secretary: The Mexican people have a new consolidated democracy

Posted on

Mexico City, June 3, 2024.- The ALBA-TCP Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza, was present in the federal elections of Mexico 2024 held this Sunday, June 2. He visited different points of the city where he was able to witness the process and civility of the Mexican people. From Mexico City, interviewed by Telesur, and in his […]

Mexico City, June 3, 2024.- The ALBA-TCP Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza, was present in the federal elections of Mexico 2024 held this Sunday, June 2. He visited different points of the city where he was able to witness the process and civility of the Mexican people.

From Mexico City, interviewed by Telesur, and in his capacity as an international guest to accompany the process to elect the President of that nation, as well as other relevant positions in the Senate, governorships, mayor’s office, among others, Arreaza emphasized that the Mexican people have a new consolidated democracy.

“Today we have seen serenity, commitment, people of all ages and a lot of civility. Many people went to the polls today (June 2) with the certainty that their vote would be respected, as rarely happened before in Mexico.”

He affirmed that the consolidation of the Fourth transformation for Latin America is essential and recalled that the outgoing president Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) came to power in very complicated times, “and came with his determination, with his democratic spirit to light up the flame of ethics and Latin American unity again”.

The path of America

The Executive Secretary said that the regional bloc is willing to continue fighting until the peoples of America consolidate their union as fraternal countries, respecting their sovereignty and independence.

Regarding Venezuela, a member country of the Alliance, Arreaza said that there will be presidential elections on July 28, which will be a new chapter in the Venezuelan democracy.

In Mexico, 98,329,591 million voters were eligible to exercise their right to vote and choose the Head of State, among other new authorities.

The National Electoral Institute (INE in Spanish) of Mexico confirmed on Monday that the candidate for the coalition called “Let’s Keep Making History,” Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, won the Presidency obtaining between 58.3 % and 60.7 % of the vote.

Sheinbaum expressed her gratitude to Mexicans who voted for her to become the first female Mexican president, in its more than 200 years of republican history, in the largest elections in this country, as well as presenting the first outlines of what her government management will be.