Music of Colombia

Modern Colombian music is a mixture of African, native Indigenous and European (especially Spanish) influences, as well as more modern American and Caribbean musical forms, such as Trinidadian, Cuban, and Jamaican. The national music of Colombia is said to be vallenato and cumbia.

Cumbia is a mixture of Spanish and African music, the latter brought by slaves. The style of dance is designed to recall the shackles worn around the ankles of the slaves. In the 19th century, slavery was abolished and Africans, Indians and other ethnic groups mixed more fully. Styles like bambuco, vallenato and porro were especially influential. When the waltz became popular in the 19th century, a Colombian version called pasillo was invented. International Latin, a type of pop ballad, and salsa music are best-represented by Charlie Zaa and Joe Arroyo, respectively.

 

Cumbia

Cumbia is a complex, rhythmic music which arose on Colombia's Atlantic coast. In its original form, cumbia bands included only percussion and vocals; modern groups include saxophones, trumpets, keyboards and trombones as well. It evolved out of native influences, combining both traditions. Some observers have claimed that the dance originally associated with cumbia arose as a depiction of a man courting a native woman, while others point to the shuffling footwork from a native man attempting to dance while fettered by iron chains around the ankle. Still others believe it is a direct import from Guinea, which has a popular cumbe dance form.

Vallenato

Vallenato arose in Valledupar on Colombia's Atlantic Coast and only gained popularity elsewhere in the country in the 1980s. Its origins are shrouded in mystery but are said to have begun with Francisco el Hombre, who allegedly defeated Satan in a musical contest. Based around the accordion, vallenato has long been connected with cumbia. Influential artists include Alejo Durán and, more recently, Alfredo Gutiérrez and Lisandro Meza.

Bambuco

Bambuco is an indigenous form of music, sometimes known as Música del interior.Bambuco is said that it is originated from the Muisca Indians due to it sad and slow rhythm. Its popularity has long been , but was extremely popular across Colombia from the mid-1920s to the late 1930s. Artists include Estudiantina,Los Carranguerros De Raquira, Jaime Llano González, Jorge Villamil and the Morales Pino Trio.

Contemporary Music

In the late 1950s, Mexican rock artists like Enrique Guzmán and César Costa became very popular in Colombia. Soon, native rock bands like Los Speakers gained a wide following. Starting in 1967 (see 1967 in music), native bands like Genesis (unrelated to the more famous band Genesis of the same name) fused native musical forms (like cumbia) with rock. Rock in Colombia gained great popularity during the 80's with the rise of Argentinean Rock bands such as Soda Stereo, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs or Los Enanitos Verdes.