Wakan Tanka Prod is excited to share the huge success of our inaugural Congona Cumbia Night. The first edition took place on Friday, November 7, at Annelundsgården in Malmö, Sweden. This special event was more than just a party. It served as the perfect nighttime culmination for a vital industry conference.
This entire day was a massive step for Latin American music in the Nordic region. The event successfully mixed serious discussion with explosive performances. It connected artists, professionals, and fans from all over Europe.
Connecting Cultures: The Musikbranschdag Conference
The daytime activities set a crucial tone. Congona Cumbia Night was organized within the framework of the Musikbranschdag – Tema Central- och Sydamerika. This conference was organized by Musikcentrum Syd. Its main objective was clear: to forge strong, necessary ties between Latin American musicians and music industry professionals in Southern Sweden and the surrounding areas.
Wakan Tanka’s Call for Industry Reform
During the conference, Lora Grigorova, Manager and Producer at Wakan Tanka Prod, delivered a significant presentation. Lora showcased the diverse roster of Wakan Tanka artists. More importantly, she addressed several critical issues facing the contemporary Latin American music scene.
Her discussion highlighted a major lack of centralized information for artists. She also tackled the complex problems many Latin American musicians face when trying to register their music and collect proper author royalties.
In a thought-provoking segment, Lora questioned the common use of the term “Latino América.” She invited the audience to reflect on its underlying colonial connotations. While finding an easy substitute is challenging, the goal was to spark a necessary conversation about cultural terminology and respect.
Voices from the Scene
Lora Grigorova was not alone on the panel. The conference brought together diverse voices essential to the scene. Juanjo Passos from Club Baires/Dulcita Festival also participated. The online version featured key remote speakers. These included Carmen Mandinga, a musical anthropologist, journalist, and DJ from Colombia, and Gianina Druta from the renowned El Cachivache Quinteto of Argentina.
The Night Takes Over: El Hijo de la Cumbia Live
Once the industry talks concluded, the energy shifted completely. The venue transformed into a dance floor for the official Congona Cumbia Night concert.
Headlining the evening was the legendary Argentine producer Emiliano Gomez, better known as El Hijo de la Cumbia. He captivated the audience with a new live band format for the first time in Malmö. The show was a groundbreaking blend of sounds. It was a psychedelic cumbia experience, skillfully fused with heavy elements of dub, drum n’bass, and modern electronic music.
This special performance marked the start of a year-long celebration. 2026 marks 30 years of Emiliano Gomez making cumbia music! This show served as the exciting kickoff for a series of new releases and live presentations planned for the coming year. Fans should stay tuned for more news!
Contemporary Cumbia Explored
The night reached its final climax with a dynamic DJ set from Super Muñeca. Diving deep into the archives and the future, Super Muñeca explored contemporary cumbia in all its facets and fusions. The set kept the infectious energy high. It proved that cumbia continues to evolve, constantly reinventing itself on the global stage.
The first Congona Cumbia Night was a resounding success. It proved that there is a strong appetite in Sweden for cutting-edge Latin American music and crucial industry dialogue. We look forward to announcing the next edition soon!