Cumbia

Rooted in the African, European, and indigenous music, Cumbia emerged as one of the popular music in Latin America. Although the birthplace of Cumbia remains debated within the folklorist, between Magdalena, Atlantico, or Panama, it traditionally originated from Colombia. Next, it dispersed and popularized to the Latin America countries, such as Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, and Peru. The blend between these three started to happen in the period of colonialization. Hence, Cumbia music symbolizes the fight of Latin American people to attain their freedom during the colonial era, the struggle in social classes, and also now become the identity of Latin American people in Colombia. The hybridity creates music imbued with unique characteristics shared by three different cultures.

The African music contributes to the rhythm which employed to the drums. In traditional cumbia music, the percussion instruments consist of the Tambora (Bass drums), Tambor Alegre (mid drum), and Lamador (small drum). Other rhythm instruments are maracas and guaches. Wide choice of percussion instruments in cumbia music creates the various tones in the music. While the wind instruments of traditional cumbia music come from the Colombian origin. There is gaita macho (male flute), Gaita hembra (female flute), and flauta de millo. All of these melodic instruments come from indigenous Colombian people. The traditional Cumbia music is mainly associated with dances, with the costumes based on the influence of European culture, and to be more specific, Spanish. Hence, this formed the traditional Cumbia music. However, of course, the Cumbia music adapted to the modernization and developed.

During modern times, Cumbia music has been developed in many styles, which Cumbia traditional music served as its core. Many musicians add different instruments, such as horns, clarinet, accordion and piano. One of the notable artists of cumbia music ins Celso Piña. Born in Mexico in 1953, he is one of the best artists who work on cumbia music in Mexico. As he is passed away now, his legacy of the cumbia works remain in the world, and he will forever be known as one of the influential artists. Listen to Macondo to find the Mexican musical influence in his song and Cumbia Poder to feels the tropical ambiance. However, if you feel like listening to the more traditional Cumbia music, enjoy Cumbia Soledeña to seek the organic sounds of traditional cumbia music. Andrés Landero also can become your alternative artist if you want to listen to the accordion melody like Celso Piña, try to listen to Mara Del Carmen and Tambó Tambó to witness the tropical ambiance in his music.

If you are looking for the modernized cumbia music and combine it the electronic music, try to listen to Bomba Estéreo works, such as Systema Solar to enjoy the combination of electronic music, rap, and cumbia music and Listen to To My Love if you prefer the slower music with the mix of tropical nuance and EDM. Carlos Vives is also an excellent alternative to more modern approaches of cumbia music. Try to listen to his collaboration with Shakira entitled La Bicicleta. Happy listening!