Cumbia originated as a courtship dance among African slaves in Colombia's coastal region. It combined African rhythms with European instruments. In the mid-20th century, Colombian band leaders spread cumbia throughout Latin America, where it became especially popular in Mexico, Argentina, and the Andes region. Cumbia was traditionally performed with drums and claves to accompany the dance, though later adopted other instruments like guitar and accordion. It remains an iconic Latin American musical style.

2. Cumbia…Latin American style originated in Colombia’s costal region During the mid-20th century, Colombian band leaders such as Pacho Galan and Lucho Bermudez orchestrated this Caribbean folklore and brought it to different parts of Latin America, where it gained particular popularity in Mexico, Argentina, and the Andean region.Cumbia began as a courtship dance practiced among the African slave population that was later mixed with European instruments and musical characteristics

3. CharacteristicsCumbiais a variant of Guinean cumbé music. However, it should be noted that the rhythm of Cumbia can be found in music of Yoruba and in other musical traditions across West Africa.

4. Characteristics Cont. Spain used its ports to import African slaves, who tried to preserve their musical traditions and also turned the drumming and dances into a courtship ritual. Cumbia was mainly performed with just drums and claves.

5. Vocabulary el baile- danceel cortejo -courtshipla flauta- flutela pareja -coupleel tambor - drumun pañuelo–kerchiefsueltas- flowing

6. Instruments La Flauta- The Flute El Tambor- Drum

7. InstrumentsLa guitarraEl acordeón

8. Traditional Dress