The rhythm of cumbia – a traditional Afro-Colombian concoction of musical beats born along the Caribbean coastline during the colonial 18th Century – is rapidly spreading its vibrant wings across the world.
This folkloric sound, native to Colombia, has been adapted to postmodern styles such as electro and hip-hop and has reputedly been wrecking musical havoc in dance clubs from San Fransisco to Buenos Aires to Paris, claimed a report by news agency Associated Press on Friday.
The traditional drums, wind instruments and maracas are frequently exchanged for guitars, bass beats and DJs while the colonial full skirts and barefeet have given way to high-heels and strobe lighting.
Cumbia was declared a veritable world sensation in July at the Latin American Music Conference 2009 in New York. At the Conference, so-called “nu-cumbia” bands Bomba Estereo from Bogota and a group of Argentine DJs known as ZZK caused the greatest stir.
Bomba Estereo recently completed a U.S. tour and the bassist and producer, Simon Mejia, was stunned at the warm reception his music received, “people went crazy … jumping in all directions, like a rock concert.” A result of too many Europeans and Americans doubtelessly lacking that natural Latin rhythm!
Mexico and Argentina were the first nations to adopt Colombian cumbia and today the music is given varied and dynamic twists throughout the world.
The diversity of the region where cumbia was born dates back to the arrival of African slaves to the Latin American sugarcane and banana plantations but the roots of cumbia remain shrouded in legend. They say, for instance, that the rhythmic beats are short steps – backwards and forwards – to reflect the limited, shuffling movements of slaves in chains – but no one knows for certain.
Cumbia is allegedly defined by its flexible pace and drum beat dialogue which makes it easy to mix with other rhythms and musical styles such as vallenato, salsa and bullerengue.
Stroll down the waterfront of any town along Colombia’s Caribbean coast on a steamy Saturday afternoon and one will invariably be enthused by loudspeakers and radios perched at every open window, pumping loud, rich sounds into the thick heat and salty air.