Cumbia Genre in Music

By Sara Garcia 

Cumbia is a musical and dance genre originating from the Caribbean coast of Colombia, which over time has spread and been adapted to many Latin American countries, developing highly popular local variations. 

Cumbia has African, Indigenous, and Spanish roots, making it one of the most representative musical expressions of Latin American fusion.

Originally, it was performed with drums, reed flutes (like the Colombian gaita), and maracas.

Characteristics of Cumbia:

* Rhythm: Binary (2/4), with very pronounced percussion and a rhythmic, circular dance movement.

* Traditional instrumentation:

tambora, alegre, llamaro, gaitas, maracas.

* Modern instrumentation:

Includes accordion, bass, keyboard, electric guitars, and drums.

* Lyrics: Typically deals with themes of love, everyday life, celebration, or social life.