All Songs Considered Alt.Latino: Music as protest in Venezuela
Jan 8, 2026
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, a Venezuelan music and culture specialist, discusses the rich history of protest music in Venezuela. She highlights how the genre reflects political strife, from the 1990s inequality songs to the optimism during Chávez's rise. The conversation includes the emergence of underground rap in response to censorship and the current musical responses to the humanitarian crises under Maduro. Isabella also touches on the diaspora's influence through artists like Danny Ocean and how music serves as a powerful tool for processing repression and advocating change.
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Music Mirrors Political Polarization
- Venezuelan reactions to Maduro's removal were deeply split, reflecting years of political polarization.
- Music has long mirrored those social tensions and helps explain why opinions vary so sharply.
Telenovela Song That Shifted Perceptions
- Jordano's 'Por Estas Calles' and its telenovela highlighted inequality and shifted public perception in the 1990s.
- That cultural moment helped create openness to Hugo Chávez's alternative message.
Consolidation Silenced Mainstream Protest
- As Chávez consolidated power, mainstream protest music declined and censorship increased.
- The government revocation of broadcast licenses curtailed oppositional voices on radio and TV.