Cumbia

Cumbia [kumbja] is a music genre popular throughout Latin America. The Cumbia originated in Colombias Caribbean coastal region and Panama,[1] from the
musical and cultural fusion of Native Colombians and
Panamanians,[2] slaves brought from Africa, and the
Spanish during colonial times in the old country of
Pocabuy, which is located in Colombias Momposina Depression and in the northeast of Panama, in the ancient
palenques of the Congo nation.

struments sank as the cargo of accordions washed ashore

on the northwest coast of Colombia. However, its more
likely that German immigrants brought the instrument to
Barranquilla in the 19th century, and it was later adopted
by the local population. Cumbia is often played in modern African celebrations.

In Panama, the processes that shaped the culture and

idiosyncrasies of the Colombian Caribbean through the
three aspects (Hispanic, black and Indian) from the SpanCumbia began as a courtship dance practiced among ish colonial period until today, also occurred in the
the African population, which was later mixed with isthmus. Research in the eld talks about their appearAmerindian steps and European and African instruments ance in the Colonial era.
and musical characteristics. Cumbia is very popular in Slaves in Panama sang the cumbia in Spanish and African
the Andean region and the Southern Cone, and is for ex- dialect, with the accompaniment of drums only. The
ample more popular than the salsa in many parts of these Mejorana a type of guitar and the Rabel were added
regions.[3]
later through Spanish inuence. The Indian inuence will

came in form of the Saloma, a modulation of the vocal

cords, a rudimentary high sonority cry that forms musical melodies.

Origins

It is mainly asserted that cumbias basic beat evolved from

Guinean cumb music. However, this basic beat can be
found in music of Yoruba (in the rhythm associated with
the god Obatala), and in other musical traditions across
West Africa. Cumbia started in the Caribbean coast of
the south of Central America and in the north of South
America, in what is now the northern coast of Colombia,
mainly in or around the Momposina Depression during
the period of Spanish colonization and on the northeast
of Panama.

2 History

Spain used its ports to import African slaves, who tried

to preserve their musical traditions and also turned the
drumming and dances into a courtship ritual. Cumbia
was mainly performed with just drums and claves.
Slaves in Colombia were later inuenced by the sounds of
New World instruments from the Kogui and Kuna tribes,
who lived between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
and the Montes de Mara in Colombia. Millo utes,
Gaita utes, and the guacharaca (an instrument similar
to the giro) were instruments borrowed from these New
World tribes. The interaction between Africans and Natives of the New World under the Spanish caste system
created a mixture from which the gaitero (cumbia interpreter) appeared, with a dened identity by the 1800s.
(These gaiteros are not the same as the Venezuelan Zulian
gaiteros.) The European guitars were added later through
Spanish inuence. According to legend, the accordion
was added after a German cargo ship carrying the in-

Popular Party with the traditional musical instruments - Panama

City - El Hatillo - 1890

The Cumbia is mentioned in many historical references,

travel diaries, and newspapers of Panama during the 19th
century.
The oldest news that exists in Panama of the Cumbia,
dates from the early 19th century, from the family of Don
Ramn Vallarino Obarrio, where slaves dance Cumbia in
his living room.
This story was passed from generation to generation since
1

STYLE

generally of a lazy, slow shue, until excited

by aguardiente, and emboldened as night progresses, the women dance furiously up to their
favorites among the men, who are then obliged
to follow suit, all joining in a kind of nasal
squeal o chant. There is nothing graceful in
their mode of dancing, but on the contrary heir
motions are often indecent and disgusting.[5]

3 Cumbia as a courtship ritual

The slave courtship rite, which featured dance prominently, was traditionally performed with music played
Mejorana, the small Spanish guitar described by Theodore John- by pairs of men and women and with male and female
son on 1851
dancers. Women playfully waved their long skirts while
holding a candle, and men danced behind the women
Doa Rita Vallarino Obarrio to Doa Matilde Obarrio, with one hand behind their back and the other hand eiwho published it in his Sketch of Panama Colonial Life ther holding a hat, putting it on, or taking it o. Male
in the early 1930s.
dancers also carried a red handkerchief which they either
wrapped around their necks, waved in circles in the air,
the passage reads:
or held out for the women to hold. Until the mid-20th
century, Cumbia was considered to be an inappropriate
In the evenings, Creole families would
dance performed primarily by the lower social classes.
gather to recite poetry and perform music typOn the Congo ritual of Panama, the cumbia begins and
ical of Spain and other parts of Europe. Other
ends the celebration. The congos begins their celebration
nights, they would bring their slaves to play
on January 20 and end with the close of carnival on Ash
their traditional drums and dances. Among the
Wednesday. Through the pre-lenten festivities the memfavorite African dances was El Punto. It conbers assume the role of escaped slaves who are commemsisted of intrinsic and abdominal movements
orating their freedom. During Weekends and the ocial
and an African woman dancing alone. Another
four-day celebration, the Congos meet in their own pridance was the Cumbia. For this one, the couvate retreat, el palenque, to sing, dance, prepare special
ples advanced to the center of the room, both
foods.
men and women, and gradually formed a circle of couples. The dance step of the man was
Pajarito is the Queens favorite son and serves as messena kind of leap backwards as the woman slid
ger and scout of congos. Pajarito always recces the group
forward carrying a lighted candle in her hand
to ensure that no enemies are hiding in the area. He enters
holding a colored handkerchief.[4]
the stage alone an when he is satised that the area is safe,
A large circle dance, similar to the modern cumbia was
described by travelers visiting Panama during nineteenth
century. Theodore Johnson described such a dance accompanied by singing, drums and a guitar when he stayed
overnight at Gorgona in 1851.
the passage reads:
The last night we tarried at gorgona, a
grand fandango came o, and hearing the
merry beating of the drums we joined the
crowd.
In front of one of the houses
were seated two of the men, strumming a
monotonous cadence on drums made of the
cocoa-tree, half of the size of a common pail,
held between their knees, and another with the
small Spanish Guitar, which furnishes the universal music on these occasions. The revellers
form a ring, in the midst of which as many
as choose enter into the dance. This consists

and leaves, to inform the queen. Throughout the performance Pajarito blows his whistle and darts back and forth
around the group.
The Queen and king enter followed by the other Congos
and build their palenque with poles and palm branches.
Immediately the Queen Dances with the king. Pajarito
Dances with the princess, and the other Congo members
in turn dance the Cumbia. The ritual continues all the
season. On Ash Wednesday, the bird betrays his people
with the white slaver named El Troyano, and Pajarito is
sentenced to death.[6]
The death of Pajarito is celebrated with a great cumbia
which all participates.[7]

4 Style
The basic rhythm structure is 2/4. Due to its origins, both
African and New World Native inuences can be felt in

3
modern deep-toned drums are used in Cumbia as
well.
The tambora is a bass drum, played in the very
rst Cumbia rhythms before the accordion entered the
Cumbia scene. It is rarely seen today as most of the
percussion instruments of traditional Cumbia have been
replaced by the more versatile conga, gira, claves, and
timbales, etc. Now, Colombian and Panamanian tamboras are generally only seen at folkloric presentations.[8]

Colombian Llamador

Cumbia.
In Colombia, Cumbia is played with a rhythm structure
of 2/4 and 2/2.
In Panama, it is played with a rhythm structure of 2/4,
4/4 and 6/8.
In Mexico, it is played with a structure of 2/2.

4.1

Claves: These percussion instruments are a pair of

hard thick sticks and usually set the beat throughout
the song.
of European origin used in Cumbia today include the
guitar, the caja a type of Snare drum, descendant of
the Spanish military drum, the mejoranera and the
Rabel (in Panama), the accordion, the bass guitar,
the clarinet, and the modern ute.

5 Cumbia genres and movements

Musical instruments

Panamanian Tambora

Traditional instruments used in Cumbia:

Drums: Cumbia drums were of African origin and
were brought along with slaves to the new world by
the Spanish conquerors. Natives used wood, ropes
made out of sisal (Agave sisalana), and dried animal
skins (usually skinned from a freshly killed animal,
that has not been drained of its blood) to make their
drums. The drums were played either with hands or
with sticks. The ends of the sticks were sometimes
wrapped with dry skin to prevent wearing of the
drums. Cumbia interpreters produce variations of
the sound emitted by the drum by hitting it on almost
every area of the wooden base and dry skin. Today,

Tambora

See also: Cumbia music by country

During the mid-20th century, Colombian musicians such
as Pacho Galn and Lucho Bermdez created a more rened form of Cumbia that became very popular throughout Colombia and the rest of Latin America. This period
is known as The Golden Age of Cumbia.

Due to the diversity of Latin America, Colombian

Cumbia has undergone major changes as it mixed with
the regional music styles of several countries (especially
in Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru). There are several distinct
variations of the music:

5.1

Cumbia Chicha

Peruvian cumbia, particularly from 1960s to mid-1990s,

is generally known as Chicha, although this denition
is quite problematic as both Peruvian cumbia and Chicha
currently co-exist and inuence each other (good examples include Agua Marinas popular cover of Los Ecos
Paloma Ajena and Grupo Nectars cover of Guindas
Cerveza, Ron y Guinda). Peruvian cumbia started in
the 1960s with groups such as Los Destellos, and later
with Juaneco Y Su Combo, Los Mirlos, Los Shapis,
Cuarteto Continental, Los Diablos Rojos, Pintura Roja,
Chacalon y la Nueva Crema and Grupo Nectar. Some
musical groups that play Peruvian cumbia today are:
Agua Marina, Armonia 10, Sociedad Privada, Hermanos
Yaipen, C. de Guadalupe, Marisol, Corazon Serrano,
Vitaly Novich and Grupo 5. These groups would be
classied as Cumbia but often take songs and techniques
from Chicha and Huayno (Andean Music) in their stylings
or as songs (see Armonia 10s Quise Morir). Grupo
Fantasma was a Peruvian-Mexican cumbia group. Andean Cumbia, is a style that combines Andean music and
cumbia. This style has even become popular in Mexico,
as some groups like Grupo Saya claim to be Cumbia andina mexicana, Mexican Andean Cumbia.
Main article: Cumbia sonidera

5.2

Technocumbia

Main article: Tecnocumbia

CUMBIA GENRES AND MOVEMENTS

Argentina came perhaps with the release of Tarjetita de

Invitacion by Adrian y Los Dados Negros (from Jujuy,
northern Argentina) in 1988 which was certied platinum, a rst back then for a cumbia act.

5.4 Tropical movement

Main article: Tropical music

5.5 Chilean Romantic Cumbia

See also: Amrico and La Noche

5.6 New Chilean Cumbia Rock

Main article: New Chilean Cumbia
Nowadays, Cumbia is gaining new attention as the result
of an emergence of acts formed by younger musicians
usually labelled as La Nueva Cumbia Chilena (The
new Chilean Cumbia), including bands such as Chico
Trujillo, Banda Conmocion, Juana Fe, Sonora Barn,
Sonora de Llegar, Chorizo Salvaje, Sonora Tomo como
Rey, Villa Cario, Sepamoya, Guachupe among others.
These new bands oer some of the classic tones and
sounds of Chilean cumbia blended with Rock or other
folk Latin American styles.[9] La Noche and Americo
are also very popular acts, although they perform a more
traditional style of Chilean cumbia, to some extent related to the style that dominated during the 90s. Actually,
Amricos repertoire mostly consists of north Peruvian
cumbia songs, popular all over Per long before Americo
sang them. He does this legally and all parts are aware of
this and agree to it.

from Mexico.

5.7 Cumbia Sound

5.3

Cumbia villera

Main article: Sound (cumbia)

Main article: Cumbia villera

In Argentina, the cumbia villera phenomenon represents
and resonates with the poor and marginalized dwellers
of villas miseria, (shanty towns, and slums). Pablo Lescano, ex-member of Amar Azul and founder of Flor
Piedra and Damas Gratis is known to be the creator of
the cumbia villera sound. However, a lighter form of
cumbia enjoyed widespread popularity in Argentina during the 1990s (see Argentine cumbia). Antonio Rios (exGrupo Sombras, ex-Malagata) is a good representative
of the Argentinian cumbia from the 1990s. The emergence of cumbia as a massively popular form of music in

The Chilean cumbia style is called sound and continues

to be the most popular cumbia style in the northern part
of the country (from XV region of Arica and Parinacota
to V Region of Valparaso and some regions of Southern Chile). Its better-known exponents are: Amerika'n
Sound, Alegria, Amanecer and Pazkual y su Alegria, although into the late 90s and early 2000s there were dozens
of groups that died with the styles crisis in mid-2005.
A resilient cumbia style from the early 1990s is Chilean
'technocumbia', sometimes known as Sound. It is a
style partially based on the Peruvian, Bolivian and Mexican cumbia with some Andean styles, although it has his

5
own identity based on a faster beat and dierent arrangements.

7 References
[1] Festival and Dances of Panama, Lila and Richad Cheville,
Panama, 1977, p. 128-129

5.8

Chanchona

Main article: chanchona

"Chanchona" is a neologism to describe a musical band
that follows a cumbia rhythm and uses instruments such
as the accordion, electric bass, conga, gira, and the occasional keyboard. This genre is popularized by artists such
as La Chanchona de Tito Mira and La Chanchona de Arcadio. Chanchona sometimes also features a marimba,
made famous in the genre by Fidel Funes.

[2] Panamanian Figurine pendant, playin the ute.

[3] Luis Vitale. Msica popular e identidad Latinoamericana.
[4] Mallet, Matilde Vda Obarrio. of, sketch of colonial life,
Panama: Panama Printer, 1961. 61: illus., 22 cm.
[5] Philadelphia: Lippincott & co., 1831. P. 31
[6] Cumbia Congo Video
[7] Festival and Dances of Panama, Lila and Richad Cheville,
Panama, 1977, p. 47.55
[8] Youtube video of Colombian tambora music

5.9

Digital Cumbia

[9] El auge de la Nueva Cumbia Rock Chilena - Terra Magazine - Terramagazine. Ar.terra.com. 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2012-08-09.

Digital Cumbia or nu-cumbia refers to a global movement of electronic music producers such as Toy Selectah, [10] Brazilian Cumbia. Sounds and Colours. 2014-03-26.
Retrieved 2014-04-10.
Copia Doble Systema, Frikstailers, Cumbia Dub Club
(CDC), Bomba Estereo, and El Hijo de la Cumbia who
mix Cumbia traditional rhythms and samples with electronic music styles. The style varies greatly, incorporat- 8 External links
ing inuences from genres such as Dancehall, Hip-Hop,
Moombahton and Electronica. Notable labels include
A Musical Journey Through Cumbia
Generation Bass, ZZK Records, Mad Decent, Terror Ne Cumbia Radio Various online streams
gro Records, Bersa Discos and UrbanWorld Records.
In a Nutshell: Cumbia Guide to cumbia (English)

5.10 Brazilian Cumbia

PortalCumbia.PE, La Pgina Ocial de la Cumbia

Peruana - PERU

Brazilian cumbia is a term loosely used to describe Brazilian music that is inuenced by cumbia. In the 21st Century, with the growth of the Internet as well as a Latin
American touring circuit, the popularity of cumbia has
increased greatly in Brazil leading to many new fusions
and variations.[10]

Muchachita, cumbia veragense by panamanian

musician Jose Luis Rodriguez Velez

See also
Baila
Latin Grammy Award for Best Cumbia/Vallenato
Album
Mexican cumbia
Aniceto Molina y Los Sabaneros
Lucho De Sedas y Juan De Sedas
Tot la Momposina

MundoCumbiero.com.ar, La Pgina Ocial de la

Cumbia en general, donde podras encontrar toda la
informacin sobre este genero

9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1

Text

Cumbia Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbia?oldid=647724520 Contributors: Ed Poor, Infrogmation, Lexor, Rboatright, TUFKAT, Jonik, Tobias Conradi, Altenmann, Seglea, GreatWhiteNortherner, Pablo-ores, Wonder al, Wiki Wikardo, Pinnecco, Gadum,
Alexf, Jo, Trevor MacInnis, Discospinster, MisterSheik, RoyBoy, Cacophony, Pearle, Alansohn, Omgee, Guy Harris, Sveno, Marianocecowski, Tony Sidaway, Camw, Adamgarrigus, Pol098, Tabletop, Sjakkalle, Wahoove, HappyCamper, GregAsche, FlaBot, Latka,
Goldscarf2, Gurch, RobyWayne, Ronebofh, Jersey Devil, DVdm, Guanaco152003, The Rambling Man, YurikBot, RobotE, RussBot, Pigman, Mikeblas, Zwobot, Pegship, Andyluciano, JLaTondre, That Guy, From That Show!, Sardanaphalus, SmackBot, Chris the speller,
DMS, Colonies Chris, Neilernst, Tsca.bot, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Valenciano, Derek R Bullamore, Zero Gravity, DMacks, Mbhskid520, Sigma 7, Drunken Pirate, Will Beback, Camilo Sanchez, Aarktica, JoeBot, Twas Now, CmdrObot, FunPika, Nunquam Dormio,
Pro bug catcher, Cydebot, Gogo Dodo, Travelbird, Jameboy, Jemusser, Epbr123, 24fan24, Mojo Hand, WhaleyTim, Stevvvv4444, Denverjerey, AntiVandalBot, Luna Santin, Seaphoto, Davidegeler, 17Drew, Alpinu, .anacondabot, Magioladitis, VoABot II, Dentren, UnaLaguna, Theroadislong, Glen, Thefthdoctor, Arjun01, Anaxial, MarshalN20, R'n'B, Sbastos, Johnsonberry, Adamholz, BlastBoogie,
Barts1a, Koven.rm, Zahzuhzaz, Dathletez, Belovedfreak, Idioma-bot, VolkovBot, Jsawiuk, GcSwRhIc, JhsBot, Slysplace, BotKung, Globalphilosophy, Tikuko, Mariana azn 21, AlleborgoBot, Logan, BotMultichill, Krawi, Kansascitychiefs, Triwbe, Nite-Sirk, Flyer22, Atownballer, Funkmetalhead16, ClueBot, EoGuy, KeniKex, Magiciandude, Arjayay, SchreiberBike, Aznsisco, Mexicumbia, La Pianista, Thingg,
Lowyingowl, XLinkBot, Tommy The Wise, WikHead, SilvonenBot, PL290, Torchame, Hvrhon, Addbot, Captain-tucker, Opus88888,
Ronhjones, AngelicMasterMind, MartinezMD, Fieldday-sunday, Redheylin, Glane23, Jdvillalobos, Tide rolls, Lightbot, Jarble, Swarm,
Luckas-bot, Yobot, Fraggle81, Scholastic Opponent, DubCrazy, IW.HG, AnomieBOT, Rjanag, Jim1138, Piano non troppo, Materialscientist, Quebec99, LilHelpa, Xqbot, Transity, Matttoothman, Nasnema, Jmalpartidaj, Coentor, Mattis, Shadowjams, FrescoBot, Joannaguy,
LucienBOT, JoaquinMiralles, Per Ardua, Feather Jonah, Thinking of England, Onlyt tooth, Reconsider the static, Hectorboki, Snesiscool,
Rivet138, Davefoster, HISTA, Ernestogon, Dhisndhat, Bronze188, Jorgecatolica1, WikitanvirBot, Alwhorl, Dewritech, Chiton magnicus,
Erianna, Thine Antique Pen, Rcsprinter123, Crown Prince, Alen1020, Alphawoleader1, Will Beback Auto, ClueBot NG, CarlosEnriqueCh, DERAP, Aghatablue, Mpaa, Blackman45, Insider Source, Marcos gamboa, BG19bot, PhnomPencil, Trekkie35, Panama1519,
Vvven, Desedas1, Odyke, Xragevino, Khazar2, Mogism, Yesicaores, Lugia2453, Deww4, Teddybearloveservices, Oscardemoya, Cumbiacolombiana, Salvi1323, Savvyjack23, Miamiboy1999, TaytayAMEC and Anonymous: 315

9.2

Images

File:Fiesta_popular_en_el_Hatillo_-_Panam.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e6/Fiesta_popular_en_

el_Hatillo_-_Panam%C3%A1.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Casa Museo Endara Original artist: Carlos Endara
File:Flag_of_Colombia.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Flag_of_Colombia.svg License: Public domain Contributors: Drawn by User:SKopp Original artist: SKopp
File:Flag_of_Panama.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Flag_of_Panama.svg License: Public domain
Contributors: ? Original artist: ?
File:Llamador1.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Llamador1.JPG License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Deww4
File:Mejorana2.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Mejorana2.jpg License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors:
Own work Original artist: Kiam-shim
File:Portal-puzzle.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/Portal-puzzle.svg License: Public domain Contributors: ?
Original artist: ?
File:Question_book-new.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/99/Question_book-new.svg License: Cc-by-sa-3.0
Contributors:
Created from scratch in Adobe Illustrator. Based on Image:Question book.png created by User:Equazcion Original artist:
Tkgd2007
File:Tambora_panamea.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Tambora_paname%C3%B1a.JPG License: CC BY-SA 3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Panama1519
File:Tamboracumbia.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Tamboracumbia.JPG License: CC BY-SA
3.0 Contributors: Own work Original artist: Deww4

9.3

Content license

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