Cairo’s Colombian community gathered last Sunday in the open air theater at Cairo Opera House to celebrate the bicentenary of their country’s independence with a performance by Colombian tambora artist Martina Camargo.
The event was organized by the Embassy of Colombia. The Colombian Ministry of Culture chose Carmago, nicknamed the “ambassador of tambora,” to represent the country with a tour in Europe and the Middle East.
To many Colombians, Camargo is the symbol of tambora, a folkloric style of music born in San Martin de Loba, the artist’s hometown. It takes its name from the Spanish word for drum, tambor.
The singer performed with three musicians and three choir members, all wearing traditional multicolored dresses. Tambora’s unique sound is punctuated by the rapid beating of hands against drums, instruments that first introduced by African slaves brought to the region by Europeans.
The concert, which lasted two hours, inspired the audience to dance enthusiastically, both on the stage and in their seats. Even the Colombian ambassador, Mario Germán Iguarán Arana, amused the public with an unexpected performance alongside Martina Camargo.
“I’m very excited and proud to represent my country and to share its traditions with the world,” Camargo told Al-Masry Al-Youm. “It’s my first time not only in Egypt but in Africa, and I’m extremely happy to be here.” The singer isn’t familiar with traditional Egyptian music except for El Tanbura, the band of veteran Egyptian master musicians, whose folk melodies evoke Carmago’s spontaneous style.
So far, Camargo’s world tour has taken her to Italy and Spain, where people “love the Colombian folkloric music.” Her next stop is Beirut.
Camargo began playing music professionally in 1987 with the group Ale Kuma. The following year, she won at theTambora Festival in San Martin de Loba with her favorite song “Las olas de la mar.” The song was composed by her father, also a famous tamborero. Camargo went on to collaborate with Andrea Echeverri and Hector Buitrago, and achieved international recognition when the magazine Semana described her album, Canto palo y cuero, as one of the year’s ten best albums.
At the Cairo Opera House Camargo sang her most famous songs, including one song composed by her father, who she paid tribute to on stage. She also played percussion while the other female chorus members sang.
Before the concert there was a video about Colombian traditions and culture. “When you get to know a Colombian artist, you get to know the real Colombia,” the Colombian ambassador said while introducing the star.
“By watching her, we remember our country and people, and really celebrate our independence.”
