AFRO-ANDEAN FUNK

 
 

Fusing Afro-Andean Culture & The Indigenous Quechua Language with American Funk, Rock & World Music

2X Latin Grammy-Nominated Afro-Andean Funk is a groundbreaking band led by Peruvian singer Araceli Poma and American music producer/bassist/composer Matt Geraghty. Their unique blend of Afro-Andean roots, world music, and funk draws on themes of social struggle, shamanic rituals, and indigenous Peruvian traditions. With a mission to unite musical cultures and bring visibility to the Quechua language—the most widely spoken indigenous language in South America—their music bridges cultural and geographic divides.

Formed in 2021, Afro-Andean Funk quickly gained international acclaim. Their debut album, The Sacred Leaf (2022), earned a Latin Grammy nomination, followed by their 2023 release, Flower on Fire. In 2024, the band achieved new heights with an expansive touring schedule, performing at major festivals and venues across North America.

 
 

In 2024, the band achieved new heights with an expansive touring schedule, performing at major festivals and venues across North America, including the Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series in Maryland, Sunfest '24 in London, Ontario, the Kultrún World Music Festival in St. Jacobs, Canada, the Levitt AMP Gallup Music Series in New Mexico, and the Día de Muertos Festival in Roswell, Georgia.

Afro-Andean Funk’s impactful work has been supported by prestigious grants from Mid-Atlantic Arts, Chamber Music America/Howard Gilman Foundation, and NYSCA, affirming their commitment to ensuring that the cultural narratives of Peru’s indigenous and Afro-Peruvian communities are heard, respected, and celebrated worldwide.

Based in New York City, Afro-Andean Funk has performed on renowned stages, including Lincoln Center and Bryant Park, captivating thousands of fans.

About the Artists

Araceli Poma, hailed as one of Peru's most representative traditional artists, is known for her dedication to amplifying the voices of women fighting against racism and marginalization. Her work continues to create platforms for female artists to share their stories.

Matt Geraghty, an acclaimed bassist, composer, and producer, met Poma in 2019 while filming the documentary series The Warrior Women of Afro-Peruvian Music. This collaboration, which spotlighted Afro-Peruvian and Criolla singers, resulted in a Latin Grammy nomination and inspired the creation of Afro-Andean Funk.

 
 
 

2nd ALBUM ‘FLOWER ON FIRE’

NOW ON BANDCAMP

‘Flower on Fire’ is inspired by the Cantuta, a flower from the Peruvian Andes, symbolic of the resilience of millions of indigenous women committed to preserving their cultural identity, their traditions and their native languages.

The album presents all original music composed by Matt Geraghty and sung by Poma with lyrics in Quechua and Kukama — native languages from South America in danger of extinction.

LISTEN HERE

 
 
 

MUSIC

 
 

Afro-Andean Funk's music is not only deeply reflective of its roots and history, but is a catalyst for demystifying cultural differences and building bridges between musical communities. Afro-Andean Funk finds unity through a diversity of sounds, languages and stories.


 
 
 

DEBUT ALBUM ‘THE SACRED LEAF

NOW ON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS

Afro-Andean Funk received a Latin Grammy nomination for their debut album ‘The Sacred Leaf’ released in the category Best Alternative Music Album. This prestigious honor places Afro-Andean Funk up alongside some of the biggest names in Latin music. The 9 songs on ‘The Sacred Leaf’ composed by Araceli and Matt are inspired by shamanic rituals, indigenous culture, the coca leaf and the story of a group of indigenous Peruvian women who were forcibly sterilized in the 90's. Their music expressively mingles a broad spectrum of traditional and modern musical styles such as Afro-pop, electronica, Huayno, drum and bass, funk, Cumbia as well as hard rock.

LISTEN HERE

 
 
 

VIDEOS

 

LIVE PERFORMANCES

 
 
 
 
 
 

VIDEOS

 

SCHEDULE

2024

12/31 Afro-Andean Funk New Year’s Bash at JORA / Long Island City
6/6 Afro-Andean Funk / Levitt AMP Cumberland Music Series / Maryland

7/5 & 7/6 Afro-Andean Funk Sunfest ‘24 / London, Ontario
7/13 Afro-Andean Funk / Kultrun World Music Festival / St. Jacobs, Canada
7/19 Afro-Andean Funk / Levitt AMP Gallup Music Series Gallup, New Mexico 

7/20 Afro-Andean Funk / Levitt AMP Gallup Music Series/ Gallup, New Mexico 

7/26 Afro-Andean Funk / Culture Lab LIC L-Stage / Long Island City, NY

10/26 Afro-Andean Funk / Día de Muertos Festival / Roswell, Georgia


PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES
Lincoln Center / NYC
Bryant Park / NYC
Instituto Cervantes / Chicago
Columbia College / Chicago
Rockwood Music Hall / NYC
Chelsea Stage / NYC
LIC Culture Lab / NYC

 

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS With Afro-Andean Funk

Join us as we invite participants to immerse themselves in intricate dance rhythms and the music of Peru. During these workshops, you will have the opportunity to learn the basic dance steps of Afro-Peruvian musical styles like marinera, festejo, landó, and tondero, as well as popular Andean musical styles like huayno.

But that's not all! We will also showcase a fascinating demonstration of unique Afro-Peruvian instruments that have endured through generations and play a fundamental role in Peruvian music, such as the quijada, cajita, and cajón.

Let's come together to embrace the richness of Hispanic heritage and experience the vibrant fusion of cultures through Afro-Andean Funk's interactive workshops. Get ready for a journey to the heart of Peru's musical traditions.

NEWS

 
 

“Following the tradition of Afro-Peruvian Lando, coming from the African side of the Peruvian country and culture. Very very nice produced Afro-Peruvian grooves.”

Felix Contreras, NPR


“Preserving the Quechua language through song.”

Marco Werman, The World


"The nomination for "The Sacred Leaf" is noteworthy because it is one of the strongest and most hotly contested categories in the Latin Grammys."

El Comercio


Afro-Andean Funk is a recipient of a 2023 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of the Howard Gilman Foundation, for ‘Flower on Fire’.

 
 
 

🎉 Afro-Andean Funk is honored to be a recipient of the 2024 USArtists International grant, made possible through the generous support of Mid Atlantic Arts, National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation! 🙏

We're set to bring Afro-Andean Funk to the international stage at the prestigious Kultrun Festival in Canada next year. 🇨🇦 This festival marks a significant milestone for us, and we're especially proud to be among the 14 first-time USAI grantees.

Afro-Andean Funk is part of Latin Grammy Nominated JUST PLAY, the 501(c)(3) non-profit production company that creates compelling performance and music projects, community workshops and documentary content that unites, inspires and educates local and global communities on roots music and the stories of marginalized artists in the Americas.


PRESS PHOTOS

SUBSCRIBE