The Son Batá collective was started in the Comuna 13 neighborhood of Medellin, Colombia in 2005 by Jhon Jaime Sanchez, Jhon Freddy Aspirilla and Carlos Alberto Sánchez. In the wake of years of violence, the group was started as an alternative space for youth to learn and practice music, art and dance. Today, Son Batá is an art collective as well as an arts organization run by artists, musicians and community organizers. This collective are also a winning Hip Hop group, achieving recognition like winning the Petronio Álvarez Festival Award in Cali, Colombia and opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Bogota. Their music blends AfroColombian music Chirimia with Hip Hop, and working with groups and organizations they hold workshops and events with the Afro-Colombian community to explore the roots of Afro music in the Pacific their identity and culture.

In this interview, independent curator and art writer Raquel de Anda spoke to members of the collective about their history, pedagogical approaches, and their recent projects.