Cumbia Music of Colombia

The Cumbia is a mixture of the Spanish, native Colombians and the African music, the pattern of the dance is designed to recall the chain worn all over the ankles of the slaves. In the 19^th century, slavery was stopped and Africans, Indians and other ethnic orchestras got a more complete integration in the Colombian culture.

The Cumbia is a difficult, rhythmic music that arose on the Colombia’s Atlantic coast; in this the original forms of the Cumbia groups include only the drums, vocals, the modern orchestras such as saxophones, trumpets, keyboards and trombones as well. This evolved out of the native influences, combing of both the traditions.  Others still assumed that is a direct import from the Guinea and has a famous dance from the Cumbe.

source of picture: www.jansochor.com

The Cumbia’s form was solidified in the year 1940 when it spread from the rural country side to the urban and middle class people. The Mambo, big band and the porro band influences the combined artists like the Lucho Bermudez to form a refined form of the cumbia that came in to the Golden  age of the Cumbia during the 1950s. The Discos Fuentes, the largest and the most powerful record label in the country, was established during this time. Fruko that is known as the Godfather of Salsa, introduced the Cuban salsa to Colombia and helped bring the Discos Fuentes to the national prominence by finding artists such as La Sonora Dinamita, who brought cumbia to Mexico where it remain famous.

It is worth pointing out that the classical cumbia is known throughout the Colombia which is the Cumbia Cienaguera, it is the song that reflects a uniquely Colombian feel called the sabor (flavour) and ambiente (which is the atmosphere). Arguably, it song has remained a Colombian staple through the years and it is widely known as the Colombia’s unofficial national anthem, some artists like Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Los Graduados, Los Black Stars, Los Golden Boys, Los Teen Angers, and Los Corraleorpos de Majagual.