Montevideo Carnival
Montevideo Carnival is virtually unknown to the people outside of Uruguay. This means that it is one of the most authentic carnivals in the world. Carnival is truly a local experience here. It hasn’t been commercialized or commodified, it is something that has been naturally produced out of the culture. Very few tourists attend carnival […]
Hearing the Call
In candombe music, the “calls” are the rhythmic phrases and vocalizations that the drummers use to communicate with each other and to direct the overall structure and flow of the music. The calls are typically performed by the “escoleros,” or lead drummers, who play the chico, repique, and piano drums. The calls are an essential […]
Living Outside the Wall
During the colonial period in Uruguay, African slaves were brought to the country to work in various industries, including agriculture, mining, and livestock farming. Many of these slaves were housed in what was known as the “Barrio Sur,” which was located outside the city walls of Montevideo. Barrio Sur was a marginalized and impoverished neighborhood […]
Learning Candombe is Cultural
Candombe is typically learned through a combination of formal and informal means. In many cases, it is passed down from generation to generation within families and communities, and children often learn by watching and imitating their elders. There are also many candombe schools, or “escuelas de candombe,” throughout Uruguay, where people of all ages can […]
Queen of the Sea
In Uruguay, the “Queen of the Sea” is a title given to the goddess Yemanjá, who is also known as Lemanjá in some cultures. Yemanjá is a deity from the Yoruba religion, which was brought to Uruguay by enslaved Africans during the colonial period. In Uruguay, the celebration of Yemanjá, also known as “Fiesta de […]
Special Days Celebrating Candombe
Candombe Day Candombe is an important cultural expression in Uruguay, and it is celebrated throughout the year in different ways. However, there is a special day that is dedicated to this music and dance style in Uruguay, known as “Día del Candombe” (Candombe Day). Candombe Day is celebrated on December 2nd of each year in […]
Do women play Candombe? Yes.
Yes, women do play candombe, a traditional Afro-Uruguayan drumming style that originated in Uruguay. While historically it was a male-dominated activity, in recent years, more and more women have been participating in candombe groups, both as drummers and dancers. In fact, there are several all-female candombe groups in Uruguay, such as “Candomebeleza” and “La Melaza”. […]
Afro-Ecuadorian Music’s Marimba
Afro-Ecuadorian music is a genre of music that has its roots in the African diaspora and has developed in Ecuador, where a significant Afro-Ecuadorian population lives mainly on the Pacific coast. One prominent example of this genre is Ecuador Marimba, which showcases the rich cultural heritage of the region. The music blends African rhythms and […]
Afro-Peruvian Music Combines Many Traditions
Afro-Peruvian music is a genre of music that emerged in Peru from the fusion of African, indigenous, and Spanish influences. Peru’s history of slavery closely ties to the arrival of Africans brought as slaves during the colonial era. Afro-Peruvian music showcases African-derived rhythms and percussion instruments like the cajón (a wooden box drum) and the […]
Paraguay’s Kamba Cua Also Play Candombe
Although the majority of the population of Paraguay is of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, there is also a small Afro-Paraguayan population with roots in the African slave trade. The exact number of Afro-Paraguayans is not known, but estimates range from 1-5% of the population. The Afro-Paraguayan community is largely concentrated in the city of […]