Afro-Colombian Bullerengue with Tonada

Tuesday, September 9, from 18:00–20:00
Location: VBKÖ – Maysedergasse 2/28, 1010 Vienna
In Spanish & English

An immersion into bullerengue, one of the most vital Afro-Colombian traditions from the Caribbean coast. Rooted in Afro-descendant communities, bullerengue brings together song, dance, and percussion in a circle where memory, resistance, and celebration coexist.

This workshop will be directed by members of Tonada, offering participants an introduction to the history, rhythms, and cultural significance of bullerengue, while also exploring its contemporary reinterpretations. Tonada was nominated for a 2024 Latin Grammy and is preparing a 2025 European tour, carrying this living heritage to new audiences.

In this workshop, participants will be invited into the living circle of bullerengue, discovering its history and meaning within Afro-Colombian culture. Through the pulse of the drums, the resonance of voices, and the movement of the dance, the workshop reveals how these elements are inseparable, woven together as one expression. At the same time, it offers a glimpse into how contemporary artists reimagine bullerengue today, carrying its ancestral strength into new forms without losing the roots that sustain it.

• No previous experience required.
• If you have percussion instruments (drums, shakers, etc.), please bring them along.

The Artists

Febe Merab Córdoba Asprilla is a bullerengue singer, educator, and researcher from Barranquilla, currently completing a Master’s in Anthropology.
Stefany Cotera is a bullerengue singer, cultural manager, educator, and co-founder of the Fundación Cultural Tonada, as well as an active member of the Red de Tamboreras de Colombia.
Mathieu Ruz is a singer and composer of traditional Caribbean genres, researcher, and educator devoted to the oral traditions of his region. A founding member of Tonada, he also leads the trio Tropickup and develops a solo project in collaboration with electronic music producers worldwide.

Together, as part of Tonada, they have brought bullerengue to national and international stages, earning recognition at the Latin Grammy Awards (2024) and the Nuestra Tierra Awards (2025), while nurturing new generations through performance, education, and cultural activism.