The rhythms of the Caribbean region of Colombia are a very important part of the lives of its inhabitants. Some of the most popular include vallenato, cumbia or bullerengue.
Music is present in celebrations, parties and, in general, all cultural manifestations of the region.
The Caribbean region of Colombia is made up of 8 departments: Atlántico, Bolívar, La Guajira, Cesar, Sucre, Córdoba, Magdalena, and the islands of San Andrés and Providencia.
It is located in the northern part of the country, bordering Venezuela and the sea that gives it its name, the Caribbean.
Its population was originally indigenous until the arrival of the Spanish and the Africans that they brought, changed the demographic structure of the area.
Main rhythms of the Caribbean region
The rhythms of this region have diverse cultural influences due to the different peoples who have lived there.
On the one hand, the indigenous natives of the area contributed their traditions and instruments, on the other hand the Spanish incorporated the lyrics.
But the most determining influence was the African, which when mixed with the others gave rise to a wide range of different styles.
According to experts, there are almost 50 different rhythms, between the purely autochthonous ones and those with slight variations on these.
Instruments
The musical instruments of the rhythms of the Caribbean region are a mixture of those used by indigenous people, Africans and Europeans. This gives them a unique sound that represents the cultural diversity of the area.
Among the European instruments we find the accordion and the tiple, the indigenous people contribute the guacharaca or the guache, while the tambora or the vallenata box would be African contributions.
The bullerengue
The bullerengue was born among the Maroon communities of the Department of Bolívar.
It is a dance that only women dance when they reach puberty. This is the rhythm in which the African influence stands out the most.
The mapalé
In its beginnings, it was a rhythm of the fishing communities.
In fact, its name comes from a fish called Cathorops mapale, which moves out of the water in a way that is reminiscent of dancers. Its origins are also African and it has sexual connotations.
Vallenato
It is one of the most popular and known among the rhythms of this area of Colombia and, by extension, of the entire country.
In this rhythm you can see the triple cultural influence typical of the Caribbean. The use of the accordion, introduced by German immigrants, and the structure of its lyrics refer to European culture.
The vallenata box, a percussion instrument, is the African contribution. Finally, the presence of the guachara, a scraping instrument, is the main indigenous contribution.
Cumbia
Along with vallenato, it is the other rhythm par excellence in the region. As with this one, it also presents features contributed by the three cultures that lived there.
The meter and lyrics show a Hispanic origin, while the instruments are African and indigenous contributions.
Although there are various theories, most claim that its name is related to the African continent, more specifically to Equatorial Guinea.
References
- Uncover Colombia. Colombian rhythms: loose those hips and have fun. Obtained from uncovercolombia.com
- All Colombia. Musical Rhythms of the Caribbean Region. Obtained from todacolombia.com
- Colombia-sa. Colombian music: cumbias, porros, pasillos, bambucos, joropos, salsa, vallenatos. Obtained from colombia-sa.com
- Riquett, Joanna. Dancing to the Rhythm of Caribbean Folklore: A Not-to-Miss Party in Colombia. Retrieved from huffingtonpost.com
- Discover Colombia. Cumbia - The Rhythm of Colombia. Obtained from discovercolombia.com