When West Africans were enslaved in Latin American countries, they brought their musical traditions with them. Combined with indigenous and Spanish traditions, the beats and rhythms of West Africa gave rise to the music forms that still get us on the dance floor today – cumbia, bachata, samba.
“The influence of African music and African traditions and culture can be found throughout all of the Americas in every single kind of music that exists across the world,” says music journalist Sandra Treviño.
Though a handful of Afro-Latino artists have gained renown over the years, many more have not been given their due. But Treviño thinks that the tide is turning.
“We are acknowledging that their contributions more now because I think artists from Afro Latino artists especially are embracing their roots and their cultures and their traditions and combining it with modern sounds. So definitely it’s on the rise.”
Treviño gave us a few recommendations for Afro-Latino artists you may want to add to your next playlist.
Sandra says: They explore Afro-Caribbean rhythms and traditions like sacred drumming combined with Carolina’s voice. They call it ‘tropical futurism.’ They have a new album out, it addresses systemic racism, capitalist decadence and the attempted erasure of trans and queer folks.
Sandra says: Even though their music is modern, it is influenced by the music created when African slaves were brought to Peru in the early 15 hundreds where they established the African diaspora in South America.
Sandra says: They combine hip hop, reggae, reggaeton, plena and dancehall music.
Sandra says: Producer and filmmaker and DJ Jigue is a fierce proponent of afro Cuban rhythms and sounds. He calls himself a ‘guajiro Afro especial’ and refers to his music as ‘tropical afrofuturism.’
Sandra says: They create music that focuses on the Afro-soul genre known as ‘tambor’ which combines her vocals with danceable polyrhythms.
