On Friday evening Chennai swung to the beats of Latin music at the Salsa Concert...

The Indian Council for Cultural relations and The Embassy of Columbia together organized a music concert by the band Chocquibtown as part of the Second Colombian Cultural Week in India.

Chocquibtown has been nominated for the Grammy Award in the category of Best Latin American Band in 2009. The name of the band is a combination of the Colombian words Choco which is the name of the native state of the band, Quibdo which is the Capital of that State and Town is a reference to the origins of the musicians.

The band had already performed and won hearts in Bhubaneswar and Delhi before their performance in Chennai’s Krishna Gana Sabha Auditorium on 23rd October as part of the event.

Dignitaries like the Columbian Ambassador to India and the Regional Director of ICCR, Mr. Rajappa were present at the concert. The evening began with a speech by the Colombian Ambassador Dr. Juan Alfredo Pinto Saavedra after which the band began their feisty and rather energetic performance. The crowd loved them and was reluctant to let them stop.

Chocquibtown’s music is a unique fusion of, salsa, hip-hop, Jamaican raaga, and also some traditional beats from Columbia’s Pacific coast.

Before every song the lead singer, showed the audience a dance step that would best suit the song .The crowd enthusiastically followed his lead.

The band was great and had the audience dancing and swaying to the music almost right from the beginning of the performance.

This evening went a long way in showing us in Chennai the fun loving spirit that Columbians have and also the passion they have for life.

Columbia was here on Friday night!