Since mid-July, Colombian salsa from Cali has toured some European countries. It has made even the most indifferent of its inhabitants dance thanks to its irresistible mixture of pachanga, mambo, boogaloo, jazz, currulao, hip hop and all possible currents to merge.
Because if there is something that this frenetic, happy and vibrant subgenre has, it is its transforming potential, like that of the musicians of the orchestra in charge of making it sound during these two months in open events, castles, independence celebrations, discos and festivals in Italy and Swiss.
His name is Pure Essence. She not only shows off the sounds faithful to those of her homeland, Cali, Valle del Cauca.
It also recalls that its members are young people who were deprived of liberty for committing crimes in their country and after a resocialization process led by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute, they managed to overcome their fears, recover part of that lost innocence and look beyond of four walls.
In Photos | From young prisoners in Colombia to ambassadors, thanks to their music
Cali is known by many as the Capital of Salsa. There, a group of young people gives an example of resocialization thanks to that musical genre. With their notes, they are making citizens from all over the world dance.
“I came to Esencia Pura because some time ago I made a mistake, a crime against the law and I came to the Valle del Lili Training Center when I was 15 years old. I spent two years paying my penalty, because I did wrong things at my young age and when I was there I decided to enter the music workshop and the change in my story began, “she told the voice of america the vocalist, Karla Yulieth Vanegas Trejos.
With the guidance of Professor Alex Del Castillo, director of the Esencia Pura orchestra, which is the only musical group in Colombia that represents the System of Criminal Responsibility for Adolescents (SRPA) took shape and strength with the involvement of 5 of these minors to whom the music inspired to make a break in the path their lives were taking.
“When I just left, it did hit me hard, because I had to go back to the neighborhood. She was already reviewed by the police, by the people. It was quite strong, and also the push to do the same thing again, but thank God that did not happen again and finally we went to another neighborhood, I continued in the classes and of so many who went out, I was the only woman and here it is rediscovering myself every day and reaching scenarios that I never imagined”, explained Karla.
The message is that second chances are worth it”
They had never played an instrument challenging industry postulates associated with learning from childhood. However, it was all a matter of will and discipline for them to discover in record time what the magic of music is capable of achieving not only for those who listen to it, but also for those who make or interpret it.
Hugo Romero, the timbalero, also told the VOA his story.
“My case was attempted murder with a 48-month sentence, I wanted to explore. I entered the seedbeds, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity in the orchestra and here we are, I am one of the founders of the orchestra (…) the message is that second chances are worth it and if we could, they, those who are serving punishment, yes they want it with their hearts, they can too”.
While learning to play bass, timpani, percussion and trumpets, these budding artists were serving their sentences at the Valle del Lili and Buen Pastor Training Centers located south of Cali.
The workshops as a vocational process that the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) offers to minors serving their sentence also include other options to rediscover their skills in leather goods, bakery, hairdressing, serigraphy, plastic arts, communications, systems, dance , physical conditioning, weaving ties and music.
The Colombian correctional system
In Colombia, the juvenile correctional system reassessed the outdated model of punishment for restorative justice, also called restorative justice or compassionate justice.
It is a process to solve the problem of crime by focusing on compensating the damage to the victims, holding the criminals accountable for their actions and also, often, involving the community in the resolution of the conflict.
But Esencia Pura was not always as acclaimed as today on tour in the old continent and soon in the United States, five years of dedicated, committed and articulated hard work.
The orchestra began with a large group of graduates from the Specialized Training Centers and like a melody that is perfected on a staff, several of its notes were disappearing. Some of the adolescents and young people relapsed in their wanderings, others lost motivation, even their lives.
Alex del Castillo, director of the Esencia Pura orchestra, told the VOA that “I only give them those tools and we give priority to those who trace their dreams and take advantage of the opportunity, from the program they are offered travel expenses, instruments, food, some went to return to the life of the past, one hurts me who took his life, others stayed and followed the process, those have come a long way”.
This is how those who decided to learn and opt for music improved their motor skills, their hearing, their vocal quality, their level. When these competitions were synchronized with enthusiasm, perseverance and hope, Esencia Pura was ready to go out on the big stages of Cali, Colombia and the world.
It hurts me one who took his life, others stayed and followed the process, those have come far ”
They have managed to be on such important stages for Cali and Valle del Cauca culture as the Cali Fair, and achieve titles of honor such as the one awarded by the Santiago de Cali city council in December 2021 and additionally, be recognized as the best orchestra in its genre in the National Contest of Salsa Orchestras in Colombia.
During these 2 months abroad they have presented their most recent musical production “Marcando la Difference” in various cities of Italy and Switzerland on account of invitations mostly from Latin communities residing abroad.
But the maximum admiration unfolds when the public knows its history. The international press has been interested in telling who they are, where they come from and how they got to Europe.
“We have been in Europe since July 10, we played at the Milano festival, we shared the same stage with Carlos Vives, Marc Antony, Anuel, Habana de Primera and other great artists with more than 8,000 people, it has been something spectacular” added Alex, the director.
All the joy that they radiate and receive in return thanks to their talent has been the best compensation for the effort and some difficulties they have experienced in the middle of their tour.
Professor Alex says that these are just the challenges that every artist faces if they want to dedicate their lives to music from the bottom of their hearts. So they are very confident and willing to take advantage of every presentation scheduled until mid-October when they have to return to Colombia, among which they plan a concert for female minor offenders in Parma, a visit to the UN headquarters in Geneva and even a possible meeting with Pope Francis.
When they return to Colombia, its members will tell other young people from the Criminal Responsibility System for Adolescents how it is possible to achieve what they dream of despite the past they carry and the present they face. The decision to change its future, the interest in music and the desire to learn are the key for Esencia Pura to continue being considered the “Ambassador Orchestra of Peace of Colombia”.
The agenda for 2023 is ready, they are preparing for what will be their tour of the United States that includes presentations in Chicago, Atlanta, Georgia, New York and Miami where these young ambassadors of peace will show the world that ‘seconds are worth opportunities’ and why it was a great decision for them to change ‘weapons for instruments’.
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