Son Palenque

Son Palenque is a legendary afro-Colombian band, founded in the beginning of the 80’s in the city of Cartagena (Caribbean coast), by the singer and composer Justo Valdez. Since then, this 7th people band has recorded 8 LP's of traditional Afro music, mixed with African and psychedelic influences. All their members come from San Basilio de Palenque, a very important village in the history of afro-Colombia.

Palenque de San Basilio was founded by black maroons (running away from slavery), and has preserved many African traditions, as an Afro-Hispanic Creole language, the only one existing today in the Americas. The musical traditions of Palenque are very close to the music of central Africa, and the Bantu area (Congo, Angola, Cameroon).

The music of SON PALENQUE has been reissued in the last years in Europe, in many compilations of Colombian and tropical music, as their music is very much appreciated by collectors and music lovers around the world. ( see the compilation “Palenque Palenque”, on Soundway label)

The band plays rhythm as cumbia, chalupa, Bullerengue, lumbalu (played for funerals and other rituals), Son de Negro, and a huge variety of african rythms. The band concerts are like a journey through the history of afro-colombian music and culture, and the history of all the musical exchanges between Africa and America, during centuries of colonial history.