Brazilian Guitarist Rafael Pondé at Jan's Gallery

Rafael Pondé, an accomplished Philadelphia-based musician, originally from Diamba, Salvador, in The State of Bahia, Brazil, promotes cultural understanding and combats racism through music.
Early recognition began in 1999, when he participated in the Bahian Music Festival by University of Vitória da Conquista. Here he and The Curipri Band won the blessing of Waly Salomão, one of the greatest “Tropicalia” poets.This led to Rafael being placed in the hall of the greats “novissimos baianos.” Waly traveled with the young Rafael to São Paulo to record the program “Música brasileira” in the studios of Trama, with João Marcelo Bôscoli, the son of the legendary Elis Regina.
Rafael has recorded four albums, and has toured Europe and Latin America, and played in The Weltkulture festival in Germany.
In 2016, Rafael was elected as “Brazilian cultural ambassador” for the program “Partners of America.” His workshops and speeches share Brazilian culture and focus on building cultural understanding and overcoming racism through music and the arts.