Pa’lante Venezuela: discover Afro-Venezuelan Christmas through workshop, music and dance

What does Christmas sound like in Venezuela? Think drums, singing, dancing and musical traditions shaped by African, Indigenous and European influences.

On 21 November, Pa’lante Venezuela brings a different kind of Christmas to SOAS. Join Venezuelan musicians for a hands-on singing and percussion workshop, followed by live bands, DJs, dancing and traditional Venezuelan Christmas food.

Whether you're interested in music, African diasporic cultures, Latin American traditions or simply looking for something different to do in London, this is a chance to experience Venezuelan Christmas while helping children affected by the earthquakes return to education.

2:00pm to 5pm: Afro-Venezuelan singing and percussion workshop

Ever wondered how African musical traditions travelled across the Atlantic and became part of the sounds we associate with Latin America?

This interactive workshop explores the African roots of Venezuelan music through singing, percussion and the rhythms that bring communities together, especially at Christmas.

Learn directly from Venezuelan musicians as they introduce you to Afro-Venezuelan rhythms and festive traditions. You'll have the chance to sing, play, listen and discover how these traditions have been passed from one generation to another.

No previous musical experience is needed. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to join in.

5:00pm to 11:00pm: Venezuelan Christmas celebration: live bands, DJs and food

After the workshop, the celebration continues with live music, dancing and a taste of Venezuelan Christmas.

Expect performances from Luzmira Zerpa and the Venezuelan Jam Collective and Imperio Bamba, with DJ sets from DJ Pao Pestana and DJ Romel Villegas.

There'll also be traditional Venezuelan Christmas food, including hallacas, made with corn dough, a savoury filling and other ingredients, wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled.

In Venezuela, making hallacas is part of Christmas itself. Families and friends gather to prepare them together, often over two days, sharing stories, music and food along the way.

The evening will also feature a fundraising raffle, with proceeds supporting children in Venezuela.

Why we're raising funds for children in Venezuela

The earthquakes of 24 June 2026 left families displaced and disrupted children's education in affected communities. For some children, returning to school is still out of reach.

Pa’lante Venezuela was born from the idea that we could share our music and culture in London while helping communities back home recover.

For this event, we're raising funds to help children access education and the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Profits will go to Chamos.org, a UK-based charity supporting vulnerable children and young people in Venezuela.

What could your participation help achieve?

The equivalent of 19 full-price workshop tickets (£570) could support one child's education for an entire school year.

Children and families also need access to safe drinking water, nutrition and healthcare. Other examples of the support needed include:

• US$200 for a 580-litre water filter
• US$23 for one week's nutritional treatment for a malnourished infant

These are illustrative fundraising comparisons. Ticket amounts represent gross sales before event expenses, rather than guaranteed donations to individual projects.

Every ticket helps us raise more funds, while bringing a piece of Venezuelan culture to London.

Ticket prices and student discounts

£30 general, £25 for students: workshop and full event (from 2:00pm). This ticket includes the Afro-Venezuelan singing and percussion workshop, followed by live music, DJs and the evening celebration.

£20 general, £15 students for students: evening celebration (from 5:00 pm). This ticket includes the live performances, DJs and evening entertainment.

Organised by Pa’lante Venezuela. Follow @palante_uk on Instagram for updates.