The musical legacy of maestro Nicolás Nicoyembe comes to life in a show at the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán
Inspired by the life of the master Nicolás Emilio Nicoyembe Rodríguez, an icon of Afro-Colombian folklore, 'Between seas and rivers, my voice is history' will be presented in Bogotá this Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
The multidisciplinary show features 35 artists on stage, including musicians, dancers, actors and circus artists, in an immersive performance that will be shown at the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Theater, with free admission until the capacity is reached.
'Between seas and rivers, my voice is history' is musically directed by Nichols Nicoyembe Rodríguez and staged by Billy Cuisman Moreno, based on an original idea and general direction by Luz Adriana Vargas.
Among other artists participating are the Compañía Danza Libre de Bogotá, the Seniors de Colombia Amiga group, the actress Reina Africana, the choreographers Gustavo Malagón, César Guerrero and Billy Cuisman, along with the maestro's musical band
The show features 35 artists on stage, including musicians, dancers, actors, and circus performers. Photo: Courtesy of the show
With over 55 years of experience bringing Afro-Colombian music to stages around the world, Nicoyembe presents a format that fuses rhythms from the Caribbean and the Pacific with African sounds, accompanied by gaita, chonta marimba, chirimía and marímbula.
This piece is a sensory journey that emerges from the maestro's childhood in Quibdó, under the musical influence of his mother María Nicacia and his father, the renowned clarinetist Daniel Rodríguez, until reaching international projection as a cultural ambassador of the traditional music of Colombia.
The work was the winner of the LEP Circulation Grant – Bogotá Circuit – Large Format 2025 from the District Portfolio of Incentives (Idartes).
This year, Nicoyembe was one of the featured artists on the Colombia al Parque lineup, which was held last July.
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