Our first SAMA Session of the year is with the amazing Afro-Colombian ensemble, Kombilesa Mi (My Friends).

Hailing from Palenque, the first free black town in the Americas, Hip hop group Kombilesa Mi is inspiring a whole new generation to love hip hop, love being black, and to rap in Palenquero, the language of their ancestors. Kombilesa Mi is a unique ensemble-preserving their cultural heritage while creating original hip hop music. Much in the vain of hip hop culture in the USA, Kombilesa Mi has created a strong identity and community, using hip hop to teach their native palenquero language and cultural heritage.

Kombilesa Mi's connection, awareness, and joy of their African roots is infectious and incredibly important to claim in Colombian culture and in the diaspora. Colombia has the second highest percentage of African descendants after Brazil in Latin America. In the United States there is a growing Afro-Latino movement and serves to educate, uplift and to bridge communities. The band’s presence is incredibly eye opening and important in a time of increased violence, ignorance, and loss of language.

Weaving in call and response, dance, and traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms, Kombilesa Mi engages the audience in a high energy and interactive performance.