Cumbia

Cumbia is originally a Colombian folk dance and dance music. Typical instrumental mix includes guitars, accordions, bass guitar, and deep-toned drums and other percussion. The basic rhythm structure is 4/4.

Related Topics:
Colombia - Folk dance - Dance music - Guitar - Accordion - Bass guitar - Percussion - Rhythm

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Cumbia is the net intersection of three cultures that settled in Colombia at different times: indigenous peoples, Spanish/Moorish and African slaves. Some claim that Cumbia began as a courtship dance among the slave population. It has now spread and is widely known in the Latin music scene.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Moorish - Africa - Latin music

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Cumbia is very popular in all of South America (except Brazil), as well as Central America and Mexico (see Mexican cumbia). There are lots of regional varieties and tendencies.

Related Topics:
South America - Brazil - Central America - Mexico - Mexican cumbia

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Cumbia tends to be appreciated more by the lower social classes, and is often scorned by the upper classes. In Argentina, for example, this social divide is exemplified by the cumbia villera phenomenon, that intends to represent and resonate with the poor and marginalized dwellers of villas miseria (shanty towns and slums), with lyrics glorifying theft and drug abuse. However, it must be noted that a lighter form of cumbia enjoyed widespread popularity in Argentina during the 1990s (see Argentine cumbia).

Related Topics:
Argentina - Cumbia villera - Villas miseria - Shanty town - Slum - 1990s - Argentine cumbia

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