Makondo

The Living Sound of Colombia’s Caribbean

Experience the enchanting sounds of Makondo, a seven-piece ensemble from Colombia’s Caribbean coast inspired by the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez.

Blending Afro-Colombian, Indigenous, and Spanish traditions, Makondo brings to life the region’s rich musical heritage through the mesmerising tones of Gaitas and Millo flutes, the deep pulse of traditional drums, and the infectious dance rhythms of Cumbia, Porro, and Mapalé.

Their performance is a celebration of Colombia’s coastal soul, where music becomes storytelling, rhythm evokes memory, and every note carries the magic of García Márquez’s imagined world.

Step into Makondo’s universe and be transported to a place where the boundaries between sound and story disappear.

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
Nataly Cotes – Lead Vocals
Sebastian Rodriguez – Clarinet, Saxophones, Backing Vocals
Luis Moncada – Clarinet, Saxophones, Maracas, Backing Vocals
Nickolas Rodriguez – Llamador Drum, Backing Vocals
Gregorio Merchan – Tambora Drum, Backing Vocals