With deeply rooted, rich traditions, what better country to feature at the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival than Colombia? Thanks to two coastlines, rainforests, and part of the world’s longest continental mountain range Colombia is truly a special destination.  The Festival breaks stereotypes and showcases the best the nation has to offer.

I had the special privilege of attending this year’s event. As part of the 45th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, talented craftspeople and performers from each of the country’s six regions gathered in Washington D.C.’s National Mall to demonstrate the process behind the trades that contribute to Colombia’s growing economy. By participating in this festival, representatives from Colombia hoped to eliminate the perception gap and prove the country as a fascinating, vibrant tourist destination. 

The festival itself was the result of a cooperation of many entities, including Proexport Colombia and the Smithsonian Institution. The process for Colombia to become a part of it was five years long, including two years for curatorship. The intense labor that went into putting it all together mirrored the diligence with which Colombia’s craftspeople work and gave visitors an in-depth view of the heritage of the nation. Fittingly, the theme was “The Nature of Colombia”. 

As we embarked on our journey through Colombia’s six primary ecosystems, we walked past a Wilys Jeep used specifically by people in the countryside to carry coffee beans. Anyone traveling to the Cafe Triangle has the option to be immersed in the culture of the Coffee Region by renting a coffee hacienda. While the coffee industry sustains around 550,000 families per year and is central to Colombia’s economy, there are many different aspects of Colombian culture. 

Each of Colombia’s regions boasts its own specialty; in the Pacific Rainforest region, for example, gold mining is an important industry. A goldsmith was on site to demonstrate how to make filaments for filigree jewelry, and works of art created by jewelers from throughout the region were on display. The Pacific Coast is influenced heavily by African Culture. The large river basins of the Southeastern Plains provide fertile soil for crop growing. Agriculture, along with cattle ranching and hunting, are the main livelihoods of the region.

The Andean Highlands are home to over seventy percent of the country’s population; the residents of this region are incredibly skilled in weaving, especially hats and different types of baskets. Watching a mother and daughter side by side, I could feel the enormous sense of well-deserved pride that each took in their work. Each of their crafts were like family heirlooms, learned from a parent or grandparent. The quickness with which they worked suggested that they were better than anyone else at what they did.

If experiencing a traditional Colombian feast is on your agenda, the Caribbean influenced Momposino Depression is the perfect destination. The combination of African, Spanish, and Creole tradition in this region makes for fantastic celebrations, complete with rich food and drumming performances.

For anyone seeking to partake in the symbolic rituals of Colombia’s indigenous culture, the Amazon Tropical Rainforest is the place. The region covers more than a third of the country and is home to fifty two ethnic groups who speak thirteen different languages.

The Festival offered plenty of entertainment. Starting with Colombia’s music which is an adventure in and of itself. The instruments used come from three different cultures: Native, Spaniard, and African. Carranguera music from the Andean Highlands, joropo music from the Southeastern Plains, and chirimia music from the Pacific Coast were just some of the live entertainment that took place during the festival. Urban street performances utilized comedy to depict everyday life in the city. A circus workshop put on by Circo Ciudad was a lively show that incorporated slapstick routines as well as current event references. Each member of the group was extremely talented, as I was relieved to discover after being selected to stand still on stage while two performers juggled large bowling pins over my head. If not for such professionalism, it would have been easy to forget that this was actually how they made their living. 

Thanks to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, approximately one million people were able to get a taste of what Colombia is all about; to experience fully  all that every region has to offer would take much longer than the festival’s ten day run. Whether you yearn to taste a cup of tinto fresher than any you’d find at your local Starbucks, visit the rainforest to get in touch with Colombia’s roots, or see the sustainable architecture made from guadua bamboo; Colombia has something for everyone.

For more information on Colombia visit www.proexportcolombia.com.co/en