Cumbia, a music tradition that transcends borders, has thrived in Latin America. Its roots tell a story of the region’s diverse cultural past.
Cumbia is a staple of Latin American music. Its driving beat can be heard from Argentina to Mexico to the US and beyond. But the musical style’s catchy rhythms can be traced back to one specific area: villages along the riverbanks of Colombia’s Rio Magdalena, where African and indigenous musical elements fused to create a new style of music.