Cumbia, often referred to as "cleaning music," holds a special place in the hearts of many, especially in Colombia and Mexico. This vibrant music, deeply rooted in history, is more than just a sound; it's a cultural practice that unites communities and reflects the diverse influences of its origins.
Cumbia dance performance in Colombia
Origins and Evolution
Cumbia originated in Colombia during the slavery period, primarily among the indigenous people. It is traditionally Afro-Colombian music, created using a set of drums (merry drums and bass drums), a guacharaca, a gaita, a set of maracas, and sometimes a clarinet. The Atlantic Coast was the birthplace of the first cumbia dance, as this was the initial point of entry for slaves brought to the Americas.
Similar to the American South, the Colombian coast was heavily populated with slaves during the 17th-19th centuries. After slavery, the majority of Africans remained in the coastal region of Colombia. Today, cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta, and Valledupar have the largest populations of Afro-Colombians.
Map of Colombia highlighting coastal regions
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The Spread of Cumbia
Colombia influenced their music to other parts of Latin America. Cumbia grew popular in Mexico during the 1940s after Colombian singer Luis Carlos Meyer Castandet emigrated to Mexico. It emerged in the orchestras of Rafael de Paz and Tony Camargo.
By the 1940s, cumbia's reach extended to Cuba, Mexico, and North America. The following two decades saw it spread throughout Central America and South America. Panama, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina; no matter where you went, cumbia was around.
Colombian cumbia singer Luis Carlos Meyer Castandet exported cumbia to Mexico. Here, the music blended with the mariachi culture and Caribbean influences. By the 1960s, Mexican cumbia began to adopt a more electronic sound, making it very energetic. In contrast, Argentina went for a more rock-and-pop version, giving it a swing-type feel. The Peruvian version, often called chicha, had a psychedelic, surf-style sound.
Cumbia music is adored from Patagonia, Argentina to Tijuana, Mexico. Any visit to a Latin American country will no doubt be illuminated and accompanied by a background of cumbia music. Latin American music wouldn’t be the same without cumbia.
The History Of Cumbia Music
The Dance and its Meaning
Traditionally, cumbia was used as a dance of courtship. A lady carried a candle to light the steps and keep her dancing partner at a respectable distance. She danced slowly, sliding her feet along the ground with occasional body sways and skirt flicks. Her male partner would sway his arms and “crown” her by putting his hat on her head.
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Cumbia’s versatility meant it could be adapted to many dance forms in pairs, as individuals, or as a group. The simplicity of traditional cumbia dance moves and the ready availability of its core musical instruments helped boost its popularity. A potent blend of styles within a folkloric context endeared it to millions and catapulted cumbia to the forefront of parties and social gatherings.
The cultural importance of cumbia has been recognized by UNESCO in its inclusion of it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
Musical Instruments and Styles
Cumbia music’s origins on Colombia’s Caribbean coast made it a percussion-based form. A small hand drum called a llamador, or the caller. The tambor alegre, or happy drum, has much in common with African musical styles.
Vocals usually come from a solo singer, a solo singer with a chorus, or a chorus of singers taking turns to provide harmonies and melodies. Modern cumbia styles are vast, and so is the instrumentation. Instruments you may find in a modern cumbia band include accordions, guitars, pianos, and electric bass guitars.
Pianists often play on the backbeat along with the llamador drum. Guitars could be acoustic, electric, or Spanish. The percussion section could feature congas, bongos, metal drums called timbales, and even complete drum kits, as seen in Western rock music. Guacharacas provide a scratching rhythm and sound similar to a güiro.
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Traditional cumbia’s clave, or rhythmic pattern, was a 2/4 duple. Some modern cumbia music includes offbeat rhythms and improvisation known as Latin Alegre, meaning joyful Latin music. There’s also the slower tempo of cumbia rebajada, while cumbia sonidera brings the scraping beat of the guacharaca to the forefront.
Here's a table summarizing the evolution of Cumbia instruments:
| Era | Instruments |
|---|---|
| Traditional | Gaitas, Flauta de Millo, Drums |
| Modern | Electric Bass, Trumpets, Congas, Accordion |
Notable Cumbia Artists
La Sonora Dinamita was a Colombian group that helped popularize cumbia throughout Latin America in the 1960s. Los Ángeles Azules formed in Mexico in the 1970s and continue playing today. They added synthesizers and accordions to give their music a modern sound.
Luis Carlos Meyer Castandet’s hits include La Historia and La Cumbia Cienaguera. Both have that particular upbeat Mexican cumbia sound. For guacharaca fans, there’s Colombian Aniceto Molina Aguirre’s La Cumbia Sampuesana.
There have been some worldwide cumbia smashes in the last few decades. Cuban singer Celia Cruz’s “La Vida es un Carnaval” shot to the world’s attention in the 1990s. Fancy some cumbia with hip-hop? Solares with “La Cumbia del Hip Hop” should hit the spot.
