Cumbia -- Folkloric

By -
Monument to Cumbia in El Banco, Magdalena, Colombia



CUMBIA is yet another purely Colombian musical invention. Many people are familiar with modern cumbia. Fewer are familiar with the classic folkloric Cumbia, from which modern Cumbia is derived.

The classic cumbia is played using the gaita hembra, gaita macho, the maraca, and drums. Classic cumbia is a Zambo (Indigenous and African mix) invention. In fact the word Cumbia comes from the African word Cumbe which meant Fiesta or Party.

Cumbia can trace its start to the beginning of the 1800s -- about the time of Bolivar. The city of El Banco, Magdalena, considers itself the birthplace of Cumbia, but Barranquilla made it famous.

The Cumbia is based on a 2/2 or 2/4 time signature. Initially, the cumbia was purely instrumental. But, over time lyrics were added.

In the traditional cumbia dance, the women wear long flowing skirts or dresses. The blouse has 3/4 sleeves and the bodice is tightly fit to the waist. The cloth is usually cotton with floral or gingham checked pattern. They wear necklaces, flowers, and special shoes called babuchas -- worn without socks.

Men wear white pants with a round-neck white shirt. The always carry a bag, a handkerchief, and a hat. Many also carry machetes, ropes, candles and other props.

Cumbia Colombiana is a national symbol. Even Shakira features it in her video -- Hips Don't Lie.

Here is a short clip showing traditional Cumbia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KHCQBXoRwE&feature=related

Today, the most recognized song is the "Pollera Colora". It was one of the 20 most beautiful songs of Colombia. My husband says, "When any Colombian in the world hears that song, there will be some sort of reaction."

Listen to it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3lmS0L-co&feature=related

Also, if you can read Spanish, the following book is available through Interlibrary loan.

Kumbia, legado cultural de los indígenas del Caribe colombiano, by Gerardo Pombo Hernandez.


Photo:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Monumento_a_la_cumbia.JPG

Comments

Lyndsay said…
My 6 year old daughter has been begging for a Cumbia dance outfit and I can't find on online. Do you know of an online vendor or even a seamstress is in the US that could make one? Thanks!
February 1, 2013 at 3:49 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Muisca Indigenous Names, from Hunza (Tunja)

By -
In response to this week’s posts on names, I have received several e-mails asking about the names of famous Colombians and their stories and about Indigenous names. I plan to spend the next three days sharing some of them. Also, I will continue to post more in the future and you will be able to find them all by clicking on the NAMES link the LABELS section to the right of the blog. Name: AQUIMÍN ( pronounced: ah key MEAN) or AQUIMINZAQUE (pronounced: ah key mean ZAH kay) When the Spanish arrived on the plains of Bogotá, 1536, they found a great nation. In fact, it was the third largest group of indigenous inhabitants in America. They called themselves the Muiscas , which meant ‘the people’. Their language was called Chibcha . The Muiscas were not a united group, but rather a collection of city states. The majority of the power was held by two main cities – what today are called Bogotá and Tunja (in Boyacá). These two cities were mortal enemies and each enlisted the loy
Read more

Popular Colombian Names

By -
Recently, I was asked to write a post on Colombian names, and popular Colombian names. I had a hard time finding a list, but eventually I did find one. According to I.N.E. - Instituto Nacional de Estadística, -- unfortunately, when I found this it doesn't say the year -- the most common Colombian boys names across all ages are: 1 JUAN CARLOS 2 CARLOS ALBERTO 3 ALEXANDER 4 ANDRES FELIPE 5 LUIS FERNANDO 6 DIEGO FERNANDO 7 JHON JAIRO 8 CARLOS ANDRES 9 ALEJANDRO 10 JUAN DAVID The girls are: 1 SANDRA MILENA 2 LUZ MARINA 3 CAROLINA 4 PAULA ANDREA 5 CLAUDIA PATRICIA 6 MARIA EUGENIA 7 PAOLA ANDREA 8 DANIELA 9 LILIANA 10 MARTHA CECILIA Just as here, names go through ebb and flow. Fourteen years ago when we were married, I attended several baby baptisms and met numerous friends of my husband. At the time, it seemed like everyone was naming their kid Juan CAMILO (boy) or Maria CAMILA (girl). I met dozens of them. Then, about 7 years later, I heard tons of SANTIAGO, JULIAN, SEBASTIAN and FE
Read more

La Madremonte

By -
Image
The myth of the Madremonte (Mother Mountain), and I do say myth though many campesinos in Colombia believe in her today, has it's roots in the indigenous cultures of Colombia and is known throughout much of Colombia including Antioquia, Caldas, Arauca, Caqueta, Amazonas, Guainia, and perhaps more departments. The Madremonte looks like a large woman. She has large, bony hands, large teeth and Betty Davis Eyes -- which on closer examination glow. Her body is covered in leaves and moss. Her hair is a tangled mess of plants and moss which often covers her face. She lives in the mountains and jungles, (in Antioquia and Caldas she lives in swamps where streams are born. People who claim to have seen her, usually report to have done so near thickets and bushes in jungle like areas. Others report having heard her bloodcurdling screams and groans on stormy nights. She rules the winds, the rains, and all the vegetation, and her role is to protect nature. She punishes those who invad
Read more