Where did music genre cumbia have its origins?

Cumbia is a style of Latin music that originated in Colombia and became popular throughout South America, Central America, and the United States. Traditional cumbia music uses a blend of African, Amerindian, and European styles and uses musical instruments such as drums, flutes, maracas, and accordions.

The cumbia musical genre traces back to the 1800s, with roots in Colombia’s African culture. It has elements of three different cultures, American Indian, African, and to a lesser extent, Spanish, being the result of the long and intense meeting of these cultures during the Conquest and the Colony.

Cumbia has evolved from its beginnings on the coast of Colombia to today.

1. The instruments: early cumbia music used many types of drums—including the tambor alegre and llamador (single-headed drums), and tambora (double-headed drum)—as well as a flute called a gaita, maracas, and a gauche, which is a tube filled with seeds. Modern cumbia music features instruments like accordions, new types of drums, guitars, and horn instruments.

2. Rhythms: Traditional cumbia used a rhythmic pattern called the clave, which is common in Afro-Cuban music. Modern cumbia will often use the Latin alegre style with offbeat rhythms and improvisation.

3. Vocals: Traditional Colombian cumbia was almost always instrumental and had no lyrics, only traditional cumbia dances. Modern cumbia added lyrics and vocals in African languages, Spanish, and other languages.