Afro-Venezuelan | World Music Central

This colorful album cover for Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos - Sol features a bold, central title "SOL" surrounded by a striking collage of colorful imagery. Each quadrant shows vivid, surrealist illustrations: a skeletal figure, a bird, intricate flowers, a key, and mystical aquatic elements. The psychedelic palette includes yellows, blues, oranges, and purples.

Album reviews

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos Illuminate with Sol

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos – Sol (Olindo Records, 2025) Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos return with Sol (sun), a stunning genre-blurring second album that…

Parranda La Cruz - Quichimba cover artwork. A simple paintoing of a horizon with mountains in the far distance.

Music videos Single reviews

Afro-Venezuelan Drum Therapy by Parranda La Cruz

Tom Orr June 29, 2024 No Comments Afro-Venezuelan drumming Parranda La Cruz Venezuelan music world music

France’s Parranda La Cruz rely on nothing more than percussion and voices for “Quichimba,” a rousing piece based on Afro-Venezuelan sources and a prime example…

Album reviews

Seductive Afro-Venezuelan Party Songs

Angel Romero September 2, 2017 No Comments Afro-Venezuelan Betsayda Machado

Betsayda Machado & La Parranda El Clavo – Loé Loá – Rural Recordings Under the Mango Tree (Odelia, 2017) Loé Loá – Rural Recordings Under…

Artist Profiles

Artist profiles: Huracan de Fuego

Angel Romero June 23, 2017 No Comments Afro-Venezuelan Huracan de Fuego Venezuela Venezuelan music

Maracaibo drum ensemble Huracan de Fuego explores the regional drum patterns of Venezuela and the roots of Afro-Venezuelan percussion. Huracan de Fuego was founded by…