Makondo – Authentic Sound of Colombia’s Caribbean

The Living Sound of Colombia’s Caribbean

Toulouse Lautrec welcomes Makondo for a special night celebrating the living sound of Colombia’s Caribbean coast.

Makondo will bring their vibrant blend of Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and Spanish musical traditions to the stage, inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez.

A seven-piece ensemble full of energy, texture and tradition, Makondo create a sound that feels both ancestral and contemporary. Expect the mesmerising tones of Gaitas and Millo flutes, the deep pulse of traditional drums, and the infectious dance rhythms of Cumbia, Porro, Gaita, Puya, Bullerengue and Mapalé. Their music is rich with rhythm, storytelling and memory, capturing the spirit of Colombia’s coastal soul. Every performance invites audiences into a vivid musical world where folklore, poetry and rhythm meet.

About Makondo

Formed on Colombia’s Caribbean coast in the late 1990s, Makondo reimagines the region’s traditional rhythms through the haunting tones of Gaitas and Millo flutes, the driving pulse of Tambora, Alegre, and Llamador drums, and the joyful beats of Cumbia, Porro, Gaita, Puya, Bullerengue, and Mapalé.

Rooted in Afro-Colombian and Indigenous heritage, their sound blends poetry, rhythm, and emotion, Spanish vocals weaving through earthy percussion and wind to create a music that feels both ancestral and contemporary. Named after Macondo, the mythical town in García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, Makondo honours the living folklore of Colombia’s coastal culture.

Having performed at major festivals across Colombia and abroad, the group continues to share the spirit of the Caribbean through performances, workshops, and collaborations, keeping alive the vibrant traditions that inspire their timeless sound.

Band Line-Up

Nickolai Rodriguez – Alegre Drum, Backing Vocals
Rafael (Beto) Sarmiento – Musical Director, Gaita Hembra, Gaita Corta, Caña de Millo, Maracas
Luzmira Serpa – Lead Vocals
Sebastian Rodriguez – Clarinet, Saxophones, Backing Vocals
Cristian Pacheco – Clarinet, Saxophones, Maracas, Backing Vocals
Nickolas Rodriguez – Llamador Drum, Backing Vocals
Gregorio Merchan – Tambora Drum, Backing Vocals