Conflict and communicative practices: the case of urban alliance in Quibdó – Chocó (Colombia)

Abstract

This investigation approaches the communicati­ve practices developed by Alianza Urbana (Urban Alliance), an artistic group in Quibdó, as well as the way in which this collective deals with the diffe­rent conflicts that end up affecting their initiatives. Alianza Urbana is integrated by a group of young people who, through rap music, express their dis­comfort and claim for people’s rights on their te­rritory. Several ways of resilience were detected due to the peculiarities of the collectivity: playing rap music, which is not very popular in the area -vallenato and salsa being the iconic rhythms-; the content of the lyrics has the powerful to enunciate naturalized realities that are not discussed in a sys­tematic way by the community; the way contents are written or produced, which implies an in depth analysis of what is happening in the territory; the possibility of “bonding” in a social fabric that gives them a strong sense of belonging –in spite of the di­fficulties for such dynamics to occur in the region, thus, creating a need to act against indifference among the community-.