If the Colombian novel has any sort of tradition, it is this: a permanent difficulty in confronting the country’s reality. Such has been the case since the genre reached maturity, just a little over fifty years ago, when García Márquez began to publish; since then, our excessive violence has constituted a cruel challenge for novelists, who have failed resoundingly each time they have tried to look the violence in the eye. The first to fail were the so-called novelists of the Violence, those who thought reproduction and denunciation sufficient, and forgot about literature; all those who over recent years have put the words “guerrilla” or “paramilitaries” in their fictions — with one or two honourable exceptions — have failed. Reality has always found a way to make fiction’s attempts look ridiculous. Well, that has just changed. The Armies, by Evelio Rosero, has done what Colombian literature has spent several decades wishing it could do.
The Armies, as Colombian readers will imagine, are three: the paramilitaries, the guerrillas and the so-called forces of order. They are three anonymous, faceless bodies, which enter and leave San José, a town not described for us in much detail; we are, however, presented with the consequences of these visits, the extreme cruelty and desolation, the irrationality and absurdity of a war motivated only by the inertia of the war itself. The poor man given the task of narrating Rosero’s novel is Ismael Pasos, an aging schoolteacher who, in a couple of hundred pages, bears patient witness to the disaster of his town and his own life. One of the great achievements of the novel is his voice, a voice Colombian readers have never heard before, a voice that blends in unprecedented ways resignation and despair, passivity and active hatred, crudeness and poetry. A voice that, while being absolutely original, owes a debt to a venerable presence in Latin American literature: Juan Rulfo.
Several of those who have written about the novel have already pointed this out: Rulfo is a sort of invisible tutor of The Armies, and it is quite possible that the Rulfian tone is the precise reason Rosero’s novel succeeds in telling us of its world. It is the tone of stories such as “They Gave Us the Land” and “The Burning Plain”, but most of all it is the tone of Pedro Páramo, which is entirely appropriate: both Rulfo’s and Rosero’s novels are novels where everyone is dead. Pedro Páramo’s dead are ghosts; Rosero’s are corpses who have nothing supernatural or metaphorical about them, who are painfully real. Towards the end of the novel, Ismael, who had begun the novel spying on his naked next-door neighbour, no longer has time for any eroticism, and on the other hand has started to wonder whether or not he is still alive. “It is fear”, he tells us, “this fear, this country, which I prefer to ignore in its entirety, playing the idiot with myself, to stay alive, or with an apparent desire to stay alive, because it is very possible, really, that I am dead, I tell myself, good and dead in hell”.
“This fear, this country”: one of the hair-raising things about this novel is what happens every time the word country appears. “Oh, this country, poor in its wealth”, says Ismael at one point. He says it without dramatics — the refusal of melodrama is one of the moral codes of The Armies — but the contrast with the incidents of the novel is so brutal that the reader cannot help but be moved. Because behind the kidnappings and disappearances and selective murders (which are the story’s backbone), behind one of the harshest final scenes in recent Latin American literature, a single question lingers: what would this country be like without the armies?

EVELIO ROSERO was born in Bogotá on 20 March 1958. He studied Social Communication at the Externado University of Colombia. In 1979 he was awarded the National Story Prize for his short story “Ausentes”, which was published by the Colombian Cultural Institute in the anthology 17 Cuentos Colombianos.

He is the author of a trilogy of novels called Primera Vez, based thematically around childhood and youth: Mateo Solo (Editorial Entreletras, Villavicencio 1984), Juliana los mira (Editorial Anagrama, Barcelona 1986, translated into Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish and German), and El Incendiado (Editorial Planeta, Bogotá 1988, awarded the Pedro Gómez Valderrama Prize for the best Colombian novel published between 1988 and 1993).

Subsequently he has published the following novels: Señor que no conoce la luna, Las muertes de fiesta, Plutón (Planeta), Los almuerzos (Editorial Universidad de Antioquia) and Los ejércitos, The Armies (awarded the Tusquets International Novel Prize for 2006, and which is being translated into English, French, German, Italian, Greek and Dutch), as well as a book of urban stories: Las esquinas más largas (Editorial Panamericana).

He is also the author of books for young readers and children, notably: El Aprendiz de Mago y otros cuentos de miedo (National Colcultura Literature for Children Prize, 1992), and the short novels Pelea en el parque (translated into English, Fight in the Park), La duenda (International Enka Prize), Cuchilla (International Norma-Fundalectura Prize 2000, translated into Italian), El hombre que quería escribir una carta, (translated into Italian) and Los escapados (Ministry of Culture National Literature Prize, 2006).

His short stories have appeared in many Colombian and international anthologies, and his novels are studied in universities and the subject of dissertations.

Evelio Rosero is currently based in Bogotá.

OSCAR GUARDIOLA-RIVERA is a Colombian philosopher, writer and cultural critic based in London. A Lecturer at the University of London and a member of the Steering Group of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities, he is also co-editor of the contemporary art & theory journal Naked Punch. His book Being against the World, a cutting-edge exploration of the relation between art, politics and rebellion, has just been published by Routledge/Cavendish. He has written and won prizes for his poetry and short fiction. At present he is working on his first novel, entitled Casa Babylon.

• Has the only five colours river, no wonder why we are so polychromatic.http://www.colombia.com/turismo/sitio/cano_cristales.asp
•  In Colombia we love ‘going bananas’: the Banana exports represent 30% of the Colombian exports without coffee, competing in the first place with flowers.
• Colombia has the biggest collection of gold pieces in a museum http://www.banrep.gov.co/museo/eng/home4.htm
• Is the first country of the world in variety of butterflies, with 3,500 diurnal species and 45,000 nocturnal ones  http://www.productsofcolombia.com/main/Colombia/Butterflies.asp
• Colombia is a top emerald producer in the world http://www.productsofcolombia.com/main/Colombia/Emeralds.asp
• The Colombian flower industry has become the international scope as the second exporter at world-wide level http://www.productsofcolombia.com/main/Colombia/Flowers.asp
• If any time you have questioned why Colombian people are so happy and feisty, we have to tell you that it is embedded in our own identity. We count with a considerable amount of festivals nationally identified per year, plus all the small parties that every month you can find locally…uepa je!!!! http://www.colombia.com/turismo/ferias_fiestas/

In 1990 he won the Concurso Latinoamericano de Cuento, with his story “El descenso” (The Descent), selected among 1,500 participants. His first book, “Las semillas del tiempo” (epífanos) (Planeta, 1992), became a number one best-seller in Colombia, and “Las ventanas y las voces” (a collection of short stories published by Ediciones B. in 1998), received high praise in Spain and throughout Latin America.

His stories have been included in a number of anthologies, such as Líneas Aéreas (Lengua de Trapo, 1999), Cuentos de fin de siglo (Seix Barral, 1999), La horrible noche (Seix Barral, 2001), Und trumten von leben (Edition 8, 2001), Cuentos de la tercera Orilla (La Banda Orienta, 2002); Cuentos caníbales (Alfaguara, 2002); 27 relatos colombianos (Planeta, 2006); and The Flight of the Condor (University of Wisconsin Press, 2007).

He has worked as a columnist for Colombia’s major newspapers, such as La Prensa, El Tiempo and El Espectador, and has collaborated on various occasions with Cambio, Cromos, Diners, Gatopardo and Semana magazines. He wrote the prologue for the book Colombia in Edita (Villegas Editores, 1992), and is co-author of Amores y Amantes (illustrated by the artist María de la Paz Jaramillo), as well as El gobierno Barco: polÌtica, economÌa y desarrollo social en Colombia 1986-1990.

His third book and first novel, “La Sentencia” (The Sentence), was published in Spain by Ediciones B. in 2002, and later translated into German. In 2006 he published his second novel, “El Arrecife” (The Reef), in Latin America and also in Spain. In 2007 he presented “El idioma de las nubes” - Ocho textos de arte y literatura), (The Language of Clouds - Eight Essays on Art and Literature), with Editorial Norma in Colombia and Belacqva in Spain, and also the reedition of “Las semillas del tiempo: epífanos”.

Currently, he writes a weekly column for the Colombian newspaper, El Espectador, and is presently working on his next novel. Botero lives in the United States with his wife and two young daughters.

In addition to his novels, Mario Mendoza has written some of Colombia’s major national newspapers including El Tiempo, as well as writing for other cultural publications. He has published various essays and literary anthologies and has taught literature at various leading universities including La Universidad Javeriana de Bogotá and James Madison University, Virginia.

Daniel Cerejo, multi-instrumentalist, arranger/producer and singer, started his career as a clarinetist playing in Woodwind Bands. He has conducted both children and adults’ choirs in local churches and participated in various youth festivals, obtaining the second national prize in Portugal along with the opportunity to perform in Expo 98, Lisbon.

From 1997 to 2003, he studied classical music at Evora, Portugal, where he specialized in piano, clarinet, singing techniques, composition and music theory. During his studies, Cerejo joined the classical and jazz orchestra playing in well-known music halls and theatres throughout Portugal, Spain and France. He was band leader, keyboardist and lead singer in various projects fusing jazz, experimental and traditional styles.
Early in 2003 he was invited to work for Arte Publica, a contemporary theatre and performing arts company, as the head arranger, live performer and actor. He collaborated on two musical productions for children, “Nos Todos Tres” and “Debaixo do Ceu”, and “Passem a Palavra”, a production mixing contemporary Portuguese poetry, alternative image/short movies and aleatoric music.

In 2004, he moved to London to further his career and meet other musicians and cultures. He has played with Phildel and Roxy Rawson as a percussionist in places like Café de Paris, Lounge, My Place, Storm and others. In 2005, he started running workshops for children and teaching percussion and keyboard in schools and churches around London. Between 2006-2008 he studied at Goldsmiths College University of London where he took a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music Studies. He is currently the Music Director and keyboard player for Tunday Akintan & Yorubeat Band and Peyoti for President.

We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s raffle:
1st Prize - 2 return trips to Colombia: Bladimir Florez from Cali. Winning number 137.
2nd Prize - an exquisite meal for 2 at leading Latin restaurant Sabor: Anne McLean        from the UK. Winning number: 237
3rd Prize - £50 voucher for Intimissimi lingerie: Cristina Gonzales from Bogota.    Winning number: 472
4th Prize - 2 tickets to the Seu Jorge concert: Vivienne Metliss from London. Winning number 153

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We are offering you the opportunity to take part in a raffle and help make a difference to Colombiage 08

- The prize: two return flights to Colombia. Courtesy of Iberia and World Gate Travel
- The price: £5 per ticket
- Runner up prices include:
- Two tickets to the Seu Jorge concert on October 30 at the Roundhouse plus copies of his new album
- Intimissimi lingerie vouchers (worth £50) for HIM or HER
- A meal for two at London’s leading Latin restaurant Sabor

Tickets now available. If you would like buy one please email us at raffle@colombiage.com. The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday 19 October.

All proceeds will go towards the running costs of the festival (artist’s travel, production, film transport, etc) .

Terms and conditions apply

- Tickets are valid on Iberia Airlines only
- Tickets valid for 1 month stay
- Tickets are non transferable/Non-rerouteable/Non-endorsable or redeemable for cash
- Booking arrangements must be directly with World Gate travel and the request for travel must
reach WGT at least 15 days before proposed travel date
- Taxes no included
- Terms and condition of the airline apply (Iberia)
- Tickets are only valid from January 09 to May 2009 and September 09 to November 2009

In September 2006, Bomba Estéreo released, Vol 1, their first album in Colombia with their independent record label, Polen.. The band also maintains an international contract with LA-based NationalRecords, their E-label, and currently enjoys downloads in portals like itunes, Emusic, Calabash, and Rhapsody across Europe and the States.

Bomba Estéreo recently became one of the 75 most sold albums on Latin itunes.Vol.1 carries influences from a diversity of genres that include reggae, dub and cumbia in fusion with electronic music. The album has 6 original cuts plus one champeta remix, “Ataole”, as an homage to the late Paulino Salgado “Batata”, one of Colombia’s most important Colombian percussionists born in the UNESCO-declared village of San Basilio de Palenque.

Bomba Estéreo’s live performances are characterized by a distinctive blend of electronic rhythms, live instruments and experimental video projections by recognized Colombian video artists.
With rhythms like cumbia, champeta and bullerengue, Colombian folklore is forever present in their invigorating shows.

Bomba Estéreo is currently celebrating the release of their new album,
Estalla and their appearance at Colombiage will mark the start of their UK tour.

Bomba Estéreo is made up of:

Liliana Saumet – Vocals
Simón Mejía – Bass, sequences and keyboard
Diego Cadavid - Percussion
Kike Egurrola- Drums

Discography:

Vol 1 - 2007

Concerts and tours

January 2007
MAMANCANA
Next to pernett and Cabas.
Julio- Agosto 2007
VOL 1 Colombian tour across the Atlantic Coast
Septiembre 2007
EN OBRA
Release Vol 1
Abril 2008
Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro
2 performances at Ciudad Teatro.
Vinacure
With Chocquibtown
Teatron
With Pacha Massive from Nueva York
and the Real Charanga from Bogotá
Mayo 2008
Downtown Majestic
With Calle 13 and Chocquibtown
Junio 2008
Downtown majestic
with La 33

Próximas Giras

Septiembre 2008
Vol 2 Release.
Septiembre 2008
Gira promocional VOL 2
COLOMBIA
Agosto 2008
Festival LatinPool ElectroCumbe
Nueva York