In recent years, a cultural phenomenon has been taking place in Colombia: musical genres with a significant African influence, such as Champeta, have become the country’s international musical flagship.
However, traditionally these rhythms were associated by marginal sectors and excluded populations due to their racial or economic condition. For a long time, these genres were considered second-rate music that had no place in the select environments of the more affluent classes.
In the particular case of Champeta, its boom was produced thanks to the rediscovery of these tunes by the ears of a new generation set to explore the country’s musical roots and those unique sounds that account for the immense cultural richness of Colombia, product of centuries of racial mixtures, carnivals, parties and tropical flavor.
This dance, which emerged some 40 years ago in the poorest neighborhoods of Cartagena, represents a musical bridge between the Colombian Caribbean coast and the African continent, where the principal rhythms that gave rise to the genre come from. Today, after four decades of evolution, Champeta has conquered the ears (and hips) of all Colombian regions and has even managed to take its African spirit overseas.
If you want to learn how to dance this rhythm you just have to let yourself be carried away by the music, forget for a moment everything you know about the concept of “personal space” and let your hips do the rest!
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Discover the region that gave birth to Champeta and other immortal rhythms like Cumbia, with our Secret Cartagena Journey! Immerse yourself in some of those communities and towns that gave shape to the musical history of Colombia.
