One of my first weekends in Colombia, I find myself in line waiting to enter the Plaza de toros, the bull fighting arena, not to see a bull fight but for another taste of Colombian culture. It was the 14th Annual Petronio Music Festival, a celebration of their African roots. From outside the arena we could hear the poundi
ng of the percussion and the cheers of the fans. The music comes from the slave days on the pacific coast; the heart of the music is the banging of the percussion instruments and with a mix of Spanish and African singing. Before we could enter the arena and feel for ourselves this enchanting music, we had to purchase the infamous viche. Many vendors sell a homemade alcohol named viche. They bottle it and sell it during the festival. The proper way to drink viche is shots poured from the “recycled” flasks into tiny plastic shot glasses. There are various kinds of viche, the original is basically a pure clear alcohol. We got the crema de viche, which is a creamy liquor with peanut flavoring. Sounds appetizing, no? They even have medicinal viche with herbs in it. With the viche pumping through our bodies we let the rhythm and chanting of the music take over. The stands were filled to the top with people waving their bandanas in the air, swaying their hips, and stomping their feet. The fans on the floor would create improvised routines that would have the groups of people in synchronized steps. On the stage the men were playing a rhythm so ingrained in their roots and the women in their traditional dresses dancing as though it were the days of slave rebellion. It’s hard to believe that music so alive and passionate comes from the roots of people so oppressed and violated. Maybe it’s that passion and liveliness that allowed them to overcome their oppressors and celebrate their heritage today. 
ng of the percussion and the cheers of the fans. The music comes from the slave days on the pacific coast; the heart of the music is the banging of the percussion instruments and with a mix of Spanish and African singing. Before we could enter the arena and feel for ourselves this enchanting music, we had to purchase the infamous viche. Many vendors sell a homemade alcohol named viche. They bottle it and sell it during the festival. The proper way to drink viche is shots poured from the “recycled” flasks into tiny plastic shot glasses. There are various kinds of viche, the original is basically a pure clear alcohol. We got the crema de viche, which is a creamy liquor with peanut flavoring. Sounds appetizing, no? They even have medicinal viche with herbs in it. With the viche pumping through our bodies we let the rhythm and chanting of the music take over. The stands were filled to the top with people waving their bandanas in the air, swaying their hips, and stomping their feet. The fans on the floor would create improvised routines that would have the groups of people in synchronized steps. On the stage the men were playing a rhythm so ingrained in their roots and the women in their traditional dresses dancing as though it were the days of slave rebellion. It’s hard to believe that music so alive and passionate comes from the roots of people so oppressed and violated. Maybe it’s that passion and liveliness that allowed them to overcome their oppressors and celebrate their heritage today. 
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