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Bogotá: the city shakes to the beat of Aainjaa drums

With pounding percussion, the city’s exuberant samba-reggae warriors are becoming a global phenomena. And anyone can get in on the act. 

Aainjaa founder Homero Cortés: Batucada drumming has become his work, life and passion.
Photos: Steve Hide

Aaaaaiiiinnnjjjjaaaaa! First a rebel yell, then the drums of Aainjaa, the “most powerful batucada on the planet” echo over downtown Bogotá starting with the repique, a Brazilian drum whipped into a fast samba rhythm with two thin sticks, then quickly joined by a volley of snare drums, followed by deep bass surdos that shake the city streets as tambours and bells chime in.

Steve Hide: Steve Hide is a veteran journalist and NGO consultant with decades of experience working in Colombia and around the world. He has coordinated logistics for international NGOs in countries including Colombia, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. He provides personal safety training for journalists via the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and his journalistic work has appeared in The Telegraph, The Independent, The Bogotá Post and more. He's also the Editor in Chief of Colombiacorners.com, where he writes about roads less travelled across Colombia.

View Comments (2)

  • I absolutely LOVE LA BATUCADA MAS PODEROSA DEL PLANETA - AAINJALA 60 TAMBORES and watch it almost every day because it makes me feel so HAPPY!

  • Saw this great band by chance and boy do those drums make you happy. I went on to watch other bands but these leave other far behind and why you ask because they all move together and best of all they smile laugh they look like they are having a great time .
    If I could have my wish granted it would be to see the band live !

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