Culture, Candombe, and Carnival With Edgardo Cambon

Bay Area Cultural Roots Exchange is a collaboration between cultural promoter Estelle Schneider and AltruVistas. The project connects musicians who have built careers in the Bay Area with music and dance fans and students who want to learn about the roots of the music and culture from a musician of that country. We are proud to announce Culture, Candombe and Carnaval in Uruguay with Edgardo Cambon as our inaugural trip in 2025. Welcome!

Join us in Uruguay for Carnival! Musician Edgardo Cambon of salsa band Candela, a pillar in the San Francisco Bay Area salsa community, will be your facilitator. We’ll visit the Museo del Carnaval and learn about the event’s history, as well as "tamboriles de Candombe” (Candombe drums) maker Lobo Nunez atelier to learn about the history of Candombe and the creation of the drums. We will view the Candombe “Llamadas” Parade up an close form a very exclusive roof top, take a drumming class, a Candombe dance class, and go Salsa dancing.

In addition to all things music, we will meet with a cultural anthropologist, take a walking tour of the UNESCO-designated Colonia Del Sacramento, and learn about the Afro-Uruguayan experience. We’ll visit a cheese farm, do a mate tasting, make empanadas, learn about the Uruguayan history of wine, and visit theaters, a craft market, contemporary art spaces, a beach resort, and the alchemists’ city of Piriapolis!

Join us for this wonderful journey!

Watch Edgardo’s video for “Amores Como Este”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrw71HdbdDA