Cuban Culture and Cultural Relations, 1959-, Part 4: Music

Music in Latin America is a universe of sound that reflects the region's rich cultural heritage. From the contagious rhythms of samba to the passionate melodies of bolero, Latin American music is the result of the intense process of transculturation developed over more than four centuries between the native populations and the diverse cultures brought from Europe, Africa and Asia. Each country in the hemisphere has shaped its own musical culture, bringing to the international scene such significant genres as Argentine tango, Colombian cumbia, Brazilian bossa nova, and Cuban son. These, as well as numerous other music and dance genres and expressions, are an effective means of celebrating and preserving the cultural identity of Latin American communities. Likewise, music is a space for recording the historical memory of peoples who have been able to turn song into a weapon of struggle, a cry of protest, or a call for unity and solidarity in the defense of their rights.