Moses Iten

I have been a producer of Cumbia for over a decade, but have never had the opportunity to travel to the birthplace of Cumbia (Colombia) or the birthplace of Digital Cumbia (Argentina).  It's also been five years since my last trip to Mexico, where my passion for Cumbia was ignited.  I have been working hard to finally realize this dream trip, but I need your support in funding the very expensive flights.

I am travelling for two reasons:

1. To tour as Cumbia Cosmonauts with performances lined up in every city, including TV web streaming, radio and talks/presentations.

2. To research sound system culture and Digital Cumbia DJs/producers for which I have confirmed around 15 interviews at the homes of DJs/producers and visiting important sites to collect music such as La Indepe in Monterrey and Tepito in Mexico City, and venues central to the scene such as Latino Power in Bogota, Niceto Club and Tropitango in Buenos Aires.  This research will contribute to my PhD (doctorate) I am currently doing at RMIT University in Melbourne.

Preparation has been many months of dedicated work, communicating with generous DJs and cultural activists who have offered a bed or couch, are helping me out with meeting people, guiding me through street markets and barrios to find out all I can about Cumbia on location in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. This is an ambitious mission to connect with local Cumbia producers and DJs, sound system operators, to exchange and collect knowledge, music, and skills to bring back to Australia and share with the world.  My focus is on cultural activism building connections with the DJs and producers who have inspired not just my production but a whole movement.  With your support, you are also contributing to my Cumbia research dedicated to include not just the most visible protagonists whom can be reached via the internet, but be inclusive of the forgotten or ignored DJs living in the barrios and villas - without whom Cumbia would not be what it is today.

This is my itinerary:

15-18 August 2019 in Monterrey, Mexico

19-20 August 2019 in Puebla, Mexico

21-28 August 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico

29 August - 4 September 2019 in Bogota, Colombia

21 November - 4 December 2019 (exact dates to be confirmed) in Buenos Aires, Argentina

First stop is Mexico, where I will travel to Monterrey to connect with the inventor of Cumbia Rebaja - Sonido Duenez - and the Rebajado MX crew whom have been building the underground Cumbia scene in their city.  I'm also hoping to meet Toy Selectah.  I will also travel to Puebla to meet with the top producers of Cumbia Poblana.  In Mexico City I’m interviewing Digital Cumbia producers and meeting Sonideros/Sonideras (sound system operators) in Tepito and other places around the city.

Then I will travel to Bogota, Colombia, where I am co-hosting with Redepunk (network of research on Punk in Latin America) a 'conversatorio' (panel) to talk about sound system culture with Edna Martinez (Kreyol/Latin-Arab, Berlin), Lucas Silva (Palenque Records, Bogota), Ricardo Vega (El Gran Latido Sound System, Bogota) and Larisa Mann (Dutty Artz, New York USA).  I’m also performing as part of a session with El Gran Latido Sound System at the Colombia Al Parque Festival, and connecting with Mario Galeano Toro (Frente Cumbiero/Ondatropica) and other local Cumbia producers and DJs.

Finally in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I’ve been communicating with Diego Bulacio aka Villa Diamante (ZZK Records), Tito of Niceto Club and many others.  I’m planning to finally meet the likes of El Remolon, Leo Martinelli of Tremor, Marcelo Fabian, Gaston aka Negro Dub and hopefully Pablo Lescano (Damas Gratis).  I will collect CDs and USB keys of Cumbia Dub, Villera and Turra to incite fiestas back in Australia and wherever I happen to travel next.

This is my tour itinerary as Cumbia Cosmonauts:

16 Aug  Patio Barrio                                      MONTERREY, Mexico

20 Aug  Gargola TV (broadcast)                 PUEBLA, Mexico

22 Aug  La Cañita                                          CDMX, Mexico

23 Aug  Aire Libre 105.3 FM (broadcast) CDMX, Mexico

24 Aug  Casa Pepe                                        CDMX, Mexico

29 Aug  Redepunk (talk)                               BOGOTA, Colombia

1 Sep     Colombia Al Parque                       BOGOTA, Colombia

7 Sep     L’Alimentacion Generale                PARIS, France

Nov/Dec dates to be confirmed                   BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

WHO AM I?

Official website for Cumbia Cosmonauts: http://cumbiacosmonauts.com.au 

My profile as a researcher: https://screensoundcultures.org.au/people/moses-iten/ 

I'm aiming to raise $4000 to help cover return flights to Mexico, Colombia and Argentina.   Any extra funds will help with domestic travel within Mexico; travel insurance; a tight daily budget (per diem); publicity and funding extra gear purchased specifically for documenting this trip.

I wish to acknowledge that in-kind support has been confirmed from generous DJs, producers and cultural activists in Mexico, Colombian and Argentina who are hosting me in their homes and guiding me in their cities.

COSTS:

$2100 – return flights to Mexico and Colombia (booked for travel in August/September 2019)

$1900 - return flights to Argentina (yet to book for travel in November/December 2019)

$550 – flights and buses in Mexico

$400 – travel insurance

$1050 - per diem for food, internet, taxis etc (on a tight budget of 35 days at $30/day)

$880 - extra gear for documentation (microphone, tripod, second camera)

$450 - publicity (poster, video)

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$7330 TOTAL COSTS