Nidia Góngora – Pacífico Maravilla (Positivo Records, 2025)
On her long-awaited solo debut, Pacífico Maravilla (Pacific wonder), gifted Colombian singer and composer Nidia Góngora delivers an introspective, emotive and full-of-life tribute to the music and resilience of the people of Colombia’s Pacific coast. For over two decades, Góngora has mixed traditional Afro-Colombian rhythms with world music sounds from across the globe, through collaborations with Quantic, Bomba Estéreo, and Ondatrópica. Now, Góngora steps fully into the spotlight with an album recorded in her hometown of Timbiquí in the Pacific Coast of Colombia.
The album fuses deeply-engaging, inventive, marimba-driven folk music and passionate vocal traditions with contemporary production, weaving personal themes of memory, love, and ancestral connection. It is important to note that the marimba (also known as marimba de chonta) is an essential musical instrument in the traditional music of the Pacific Coast of Colombia.
Góngora, also founder of the group Canalón de Timbiquí, has earned international recognition, including a Latin Grammy nomination and features in The Guardian, The New York Times, and the BBC. Her influence even extends into botany: an orchid species, Lepanthes nidiagongorana, bears her name.
The vocals and chorus arrangements on the album feature a wide ensemble of voices, including Nidia Góngora herself, Irma Bonilla Bonilla, Nicol Bonilla, Angie Mideli Torres, Yoceline Ocoró Carabalí, Karol Díaz del Castillo Herrera, Valeria Barbosa, Liceth Zagon, Yuly Magaly Castro, Yiniva Venté Erazo, Leissy Astrid Paz Reina, Carolina Mosquera, Kary Sol, Mayssy Cundumí, Manuel Angulo Hinestroza, Freiler Angulo Montaño, and Johan Orlando Agualimpia Alegría.
Instrumental contributions include marimba performances by Adrian Viafara, Alexis Montaño, Jhon Alex del Castillo, and guest musician Heriberto Bonilla. Percussion was led by Jhon Fredy Vivas (bombo, cununos, congas), Duván Díaz (cununos), and guest Freddy Colorado (minor percussion). Guitars were played by Jefry Cuesta (acoustic), José Daniel Ducuara (electric), and Flavio Andrés Bolaño (African guitars).
Brass and wind arrangements were crafted by Harlinson Lozano, who also played saxophone, with Joseph Arango on trumpet and bugle, Edgardo Manuel on trombone, and Adrian Viafara handling clarinets and arrangements on “Mi Sábalo.” String arrangements were enriched by Sergio Suárez on violins.
The rhythm section features Sebastián Blackburn on drums and Jefry Obando on bass. Keyboards and programming were performed by Cristhian Salgado, with additional beat programming by Alexis Play.
Guest appearances include Cuban singer Daymé Arocena and Costa Rican poet Shirley Campbell.
Pacífico Maravilla was produced by Cristhian Salgado and co-produced by Nidia Góngora, with additional production by Djamel Kady (Mi Bunde), Mista Savona (Mi Bunde), and Alexis Play (Mi Marimba). Mixing duties were handled by 13-time Latin Grammy winner Francisco “Kiko” Castro, with contributions from Mista Savona and Cristhian Salgado on select tracks. Mastering was led by Felipe Tichauer, with Felipe López mastering the track “En los Manglares.”
The album was recorded at Bombo Records, Casa Hostal La Bella Sofía, and Estudio 312 at Universidad Icesi. Recording engineers included Cristhian Salgado and Jorge Díaz, supported by assistants Germán Rodríguez, Valeria Barbosa, Andrés Felipe Sabogal, and Juan José Castro.
Buy Pacífico Maravilla.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.