La Rueda de Candombe: Uruguay's Beating Heart

0:00It's April 19th. Welcome to Canada News today, powered by AI. Every Monday night, hundreds packed poise de España en Montevideo, Uruguay, for La Rueda de Candome. This crew, founded by producer Caleb Amado and pals, bangs out drums, guitars, and accordions in a circle around a table. It's the season's final show, drawing crowds to this vibrant rhythm that's pure Uruguayan soul. Inspired by Brazilian music circles during a 2024 trip to Rio, Amado and Rolo Fernandez kicked it off back home with four other musicians. Wood began in a tiny bar called Santa Catalina spilled into the street as words spread fast. Candome traces back to the 18th century when enslaved Africans brought drumbeats to that very plaza for rituals. It's evolved into Uruguay's heartbeat, blended with jazz, a staple of carnivals, and even UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage nod. Back then, it fueled political vibes in the 60s and 70s. Social media blew it up, pulling tourists and vans and

1:04big names at singer Jorge Drexler for stadium collabs. They dropped an album and got invited to rep Uruguay at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival's cultural side. As winter hits, the group ain't fading. They're planning fresh projects and spreading to more city squares, keeping that ancestral fire alive.