If you’ve not heard of cumbia, there’s never been a better time to get in-the-know. One of Colombia’s finest cultural exports, it’s a style of music and dance that is so irresistibly grooved that it simply makes you move, whether you like it or not.
And now Cumbia has been declared a piece of Colombian national heritage. According to teleSUR, that means greater ‘recognition of the “living memory” of those who have made cumbia part of the history of Colombia’. In other words, heritage status recognises the music’s importance and enshrines it in conservation.
So what exactly is cumbia? Well, it’s a traditional form of folk music and dance that was developed in Colombia. It emerged in the nineteenth century out of the meeting of several different peoples, after the country’s native culture merged with the musical cultures of European colonisers and colonial-era African slaves.
Musically, it’s all about the rhythm, which is distinctive in its double-time beat. Cumbia tunes and performances usually involve guitar, bass guitar, accordions and percussion – but they also feature distinctive costumes, stages and instruments.
While the OG cumbia comes from Colombia, several regional variations have developed over the centuries. These days cumbia is one of South America’s most popular genres, with its influence spreading into pop and electronic music. For a couple of samples of cumbia, be sure to check out classic-style artists like Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto and Peregoyo y Su Combo Vacaná, as well as the modern fusion vibes of Ondátropica and Frente Cumbiero.
And now you can impress your mates and dates by saying it’s all legit Colombian cultural heritage! Now to get it added to Unesco’s Intangible Heritage list.
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