rebolu

Biography

REBOLU (formerly Grupo Rebolú) is a Queens, New York-based Latin-fusion band specializing in Afro-Colombian rhythms from Colombia's Caribbean coast, including gaita and bullerengue. Founded in 2004 by childhood friends Ronald Polo (composer) and Morris Cañate (percussionist) from Barranquilla, Colombia, the group formed after the two trained at Barranquilla’s Escuela de Música and performed internationally with folkloric ensembles like La Corporación Cultural Barranquilla since age five. They moved to New York City to share their music, where singer Johanna Castañeda, originally from Bogotá with roots in joropo, joined after being drawn to their sound; she later married Polo and became band manager.[2][3][5]

The band's career developed through persistent performances in New York's Colombian community and beyond, blending traditional Colombian folk elements—such as interlocking African-derived drum rhythms, gaita flutes, and bullerengue—with modern touches like electric bass, saxophone, jazz, and reggae influences. Their distinctive eight-person lineup incorporates members from Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and the US, creating layered textures rooted in authenticity. Key releases include the 2025 Smithsonian Folkways album Mi Herencia (My Heritage), which reflects their heritage and family life, featuring contributions from Polo and Castañeda's young daughters.[2][4]

REBOLU's energetic live shows, highlighted by appearances like NPR's Tiny Desk, have built a reputation as a vibrant party embodying Colombia's African, Spanish, and Indigenous musical heritage. Despite pandemic challenges, they continue touring, preserving and evolving coastal traditions for global audiences while dedicating their work to passing culture to future generations.[2][4][7]

Fun Facts

• Morris Cañate hails from a lineage of tambor alegre players in San Basilio de Palenque, the first free town founded by escaped enslaved Africans in the Americas.
• Seven-year-old Melody Polo Castañeda composed and sang 'Cumbia Sabrosa,' the second track on Mi Herencia, involving the family's home songwriting process.
• The band blends Caribbean Colombian traditions with reggae and funk, as showcased in their energetic NPR Tiny Desk performance.
• Johanna Castañeda, raised on joropo from Colombia's eastern plains, discovered Afro-Colombian coastal music only after moving to New York.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Ronald Polo - Co-founder and composer (All albums including Mi Herencia) [2004-present]
• Morris Cañate - Co-founder and percussionist from revered Afro-Colombian drumming lineage of San Basilio de Palenque (All albums, core rhythms in gaita and bullerengue) [2004-present]
• Johanna Castañeda - Lead vocalist, band manager, wife of Ronald Polo (Mi Herencia and live performances) [Early 2000s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Melody Polo Castañeda - Daughter of Johanna Castañeda and Ronald Polo, contributed song (Composed and sang 'Cumbia Sabrosa' on Mi Herencia) [2025]

External Links

• Spotify