Understanding Yorùbá Instruments: From Tradition to Modern Influence
The Yorùbá people of Nigeria and West Africa have a rich and sophisticated musical heritage that features a wide variety of traditional instruments, each tied to ceremony, storytelling, and spiritual practice. Here are some of the most significant ones: (The instruments in bold face type are ones we have in our collection.) Percussion Instruments Percussion […]
Afro-Chilean Music is Making a Comeback
Afro Chilean music is a genre of music rooted in the African heritage of Chilean people. The music is a blend of African rhythms, indigenous music, and Spanish influences. One of the most popular forms of Afro Chilean music is the cueca, which is the national dance of Chile. The cueca has its roots in […]
Musical Instruments Originating from Africa
The African diaspora has had a profound impact on music around the world, with many musical genres and instruments originating from African cultures. These instruments are used across musical genres, including African music, Afro-Caribbean music, Latin music, jazz, and rock, among others. Here is a sample of musical instruments originating with the African diaspora in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What’s a Polyrhythmic Beat? Why’s it important?
Polyrhythmic beats from the African slave trade refer to the complex, layered rhythms that were brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. These rhythms are the product of the diverse musical traditions that existed across Africa, which were brought together during the slave trade and combined with European and indigenous American musical influences. African polyrhythms […]