6 MUSICAL RHYTHMS FROM THE PACIFIC REGION OF COLOMBIA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The most characteristic musical rhythms of the Pacific region are the currulao, the tambourine, the abozao, the patacoré, the juga or the bunde.

Other styles also present in the area, to a lesser extent, are: the polka, the chocoano calypso, the chocoana contradanza or the carol.

The Pacific region in Colombia is located on the coast that is washed by that ocean. It includes the departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Cauca and Nariño.

Being a region that runs parallel to a very long coastal strip, it even establishes a border with Panama, to the north, and Ecuador, to the south.

The total extension of the territory is more than 80,000 square km and its population exceeds one million inhabitants.

The culture of the region has Spanish, indigenous and, above all, African-American influences. This is reflected in the musical styles and the typical dances of the area.

The musical rhythms of the Colombian Pacific

1- The currulao

It is perhaps the most popular musical style among the Afro-Colombian community in the area. In addition, we can also find it in some territories of Ecuador due to its geographical proximity.

The drum and clarinet are the predominant instruments in this style. In fact, the name currulao comes from cununao, which is how drums were known in this area of ​​African influence.

Sometimes we find groups in which the saxophone is also included among the instruments used.

The ultimate goal of the dance is courtship. For this reason, the masculine movements represent strength and vigor without breaking with the harmony, while the woman dances calmly waiting to be seduced.

2- Drum

The origin of this style is found in African rhythms, like the previous one, but also military. This is due to the cultural influence of the Spanish occupation in the area.

The instruments involved are the harpsichord, the small drum, the cymbals and the clapping, as well as cununos.

There are three sub-regional varieties: Juradó, Bahía Solano and Nuquí. The latter is danced on the beach, without lifting the feet off the ground and with lateral movements. This variant is considered a dance of infatuation.

3- The abozao

Very similar to currulao, the main difference is that the drums are not that important. It is a dance with erotic content, since the movements are always very suggestive.

The women move their hips so that the men are turned on and come to meet them. It is generally danced in a group, with men and women alternating in two elongated lines.

According to tradition, there are specific uniforms based on sex: shorts and a simple shirt for men, a wide skirt and a shirt with a neckline for women.

4- The patacoré

Derived from the currulao, like almost all the other styles of the Pacific coast of Colombia. The most striking thing about this style is the seemingly unnatural mix of voices.

Sometimes those of the children are mixed with those of the women in the background, or shouting and shrillness are used to enrich the whole. We also find it in the north of Ecuador.

5- Play it

Again, a variant of the currulao that in this case is used at funerals or Christmas festivities.

It is the music to accompany certain celebrations or traditional pilgrimages. The roots of the game in the area therefore has to do with religious and mythical motives: God, Jesus and some sanctities.

It combines the performance of a sung chorus with the recitation of spoken verses.

6- Other styles present in the area

The bunde, the polka, the Chocoano calypso, the Chocoan contradanza or the Christmas carol are some of the other styles present in the Pacific coastline of Colombia.

This is due to the musical richness of the area as a consequence of the African and indigenous roots that are still present.

References

1. Marimba music, traditional chants and dances from the Colombia South Pacific region and Esmeraldas Province of Ecuador on UNESCO: Intangible cultural heritage, at ich.unesco.org
2. The currulao on A small trip through Colombian music, at solar.physics.montana.edu
3. How Colombian traditions work on Howstuffworks, at people.howstuffworks.com
4. Currulao: a musical gateway between Africa and Colombia on Otrabandarecords.com, at otrabandarecords.com
5. African Legacies in Pacific Colombian Music: A Synthesis. Carlos A. Arcila. (2016). University of Alberta.