Social action and decolonization through music in Colombia: Collective practices, narratives of equality, and the armed conflict

Abstract

This article examines music programs and projects oriented towards social action in Colombia by studying the ideas expressed by music educators, who are central actors for the development and growth of such programs. Due to the implementation of neoliberal multicultural policies, this kind of projects have flourished in Colombia during the last thirty years, taking multiple forms. Such a diversity also reveals gaps in their scope (local, regional, national) and dimension (small, big), as well as in their identity-building character (focus on certain population groups). However, the analysis suggests that projects focused on music education as social action also share a series of structural features. This multiplicity of music practices —foundational in processes of cultural construction— displays varied spheres for the expression of multiculturalism in Colombia. Therefore, along with a variety of musical cultures in Colombia, diverse ideas about what music is are also plenty. In this article, I explore whether this epistemic diversity influences the implementation of said programs. Based on a survey with 109 participants and 23 semi-structured interviews, I critically analyze three issues that are key for music educators in Colombia: i) diverse ideas about collective and participatory music practices, ii) discourses about equality and equity, and iii) the roles of music in the internal armed conflict. The findings suggest that, despite shared interests, the consequences of colonial difference (Mignolo 1999) play an important role in drawing conceptual nuances that sustain these diverse practices. Here, I question the assumptions of some projects, the practice of which aligns with capitalistic, imposing, and westernizing notions of development. Studies like this one contribute to strengthening narratives and actions that acknowledge and value diversity, questioning hegemonic canons and providing opportunities to refine tools that bring music closer to social action.