Santiago García

domingo, 1 de marzo de 2009

LOS DE ARRIBA Y LOS DE ABAJO

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120 x 120 cmÓleo sobre telaMontevideo2004
120 x 80 cmAcrílico sobre telaMontevideo2003
133 x 101 cmAcrílico sobre telaMontevideo2004
148 x 120 cmAcrílico sobre telaMontevideo2003
110 x 110 cmAcrílico sobre telaSan Pablo, Brasil2003
120 x 97 cmÓleo sobre telaMontevideo2004
150 x 120 cmAcrílico sobre telaSan Pablo, Brasil2003
120 x 120 cmÓleo sobre telaMontevideo2004

Candombe is the survival dance of the ancestral African heap, of Bantú roots, brought to “Río de la Plata” by black slaves. The word has a generic meaning for all black dances, but also evokates the ritual of the black race. This ritual comes probably from rhythmic sounds characterising the afro dance. The musical and emotional spirit goes beyond the memories of unfortunate slaves, that were suddenly transplanted from Africa to South America, to be sold and mistreated. They were painful souls that only kept nostalgia from home. That is why slaves set themselves free by dancing!
It is not possible to talk about Candombe, without first referring to the instrument that constitutes its essence and soul: the bongo drum. During the colonies the bongo drums were called “tango” by the salves. This expression finds its origin in the sound produced by bongo drums, but it is also the place where the slaves celebrated their dances.
When Montevideo was still a military city rounded by walls, black slaves danced Candombe within the city in the former “Plaza del Mercado Chico” and Paseo del Recinto”, both located on the south coast of the city. Historical documents show that during the 19th century, the city hall (“Cabildo de Montevideo”), was worried about black camdombe-dances. This dances -- called “tambos” o “tangos” --were prohibited and black slaves were seriously punished. However, black slaves continued to dance Candombe with even more frenzy. For this reason in 1808, neighbours of Montevideo asked Governor Francisco Javier Elio to repress Candombe dance and music, as considered detrimental to work obligations. A few decades later, on December 12th 1842, President Don Joaquín Suarez abolished the slavery in the country. Since them, black people are free in Uruguay.
Although Candombe has roots in both Angola and Congo, its expressive value has taken influences from folk music of “Río de la Plata”. The sound of black-people bongo drums, is today a symbol of the popular soul, as well as a revival of slavery. Candombe has been commercialised, but the black soul of both melody and bongo drums, remains the same. Nevertheless, the meaning of Candombe has changed. Former Canbombe was a way of demonstration, today is just folk music.

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