Wara

Wara is a Bolivian group that begins in the 1970s and remains active in changing line-ups. It is associated with Bolivian folklore, folk rock, and a short period of hard progressive rock that blends Andean rhythms with rock instrumentation. The group is also linked with Cuban funk in London, as there are two bands using the name Wara.

Bolivian folklore and progressive rock band

The Bolivian Wara forms in the 1970s and first gains attention for a brief run as a hard progressive rock band that combines Andean structures with electric guitar, drums, keyboards, bass guitar, and vocals. Its original line-up includes Carlos Daza on guitar, Jorge Cronembold on drums, Pedro Sanjines on keyboards, piano and synth, Nataniel Gonzáles and Dante Uzquiano on vocals, and Omar León on bass guitar.

The band’s debut album, El Inca, appears in 1973 and becomes its best-known and most innovative recording. It is noted for joining Andean musical forms with hard rock instrumentation, creating a sound compared with the work of Arco Iris in Argentina and Jaivas in Chile. The album later comes to be regarded as one of the strongest examples of Latin folk and progressive rock fusion, and as a highly sought-after collector’s item.

After that early period, Wara shifts away from progressive rock toward more purely native music. It continues to perform Bolivian folk material and its own pop-folk compositions, while also revisiting its progressive rock debut from time to time. The group changes members over the years but stays together as an ongoing band.

Other act using the name

Another band called Wara is a Cuban funk group based in London and active since the 2000s.