Summary
NPR launched a visual series about the music genre cumbia, showcasing its journey and influence across Latin America and beyond. The series highlights the cultural significance of cumbia and how it evolved from its beginnings in Colombia to become a widely enjoyed genre in multiple countries, including the United States.
Key Facts
- NPR's series focuses on the music genre cumbia.
- Cumbia started as a working-class music form with simple rhythms.
- It originated on Colombia's coast during colonial times, blending African, indigenous, and European influences.
- Cumbia has spread across Latin America and to places like Los Angeles in the U.S.
- The series, called "Cumbia Across Latin America," covers six countries.
- Photographers Karla Gachet and Iván Kashinsky are part of this project, supported by National Geographic Explorer.
- The series offers visual stories and a playlist in both English and Spanish.
