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cumbia

cumbia

2 6.5
A lively Colombian music and dance with a strong beat
  • noun
  • /ˈkʊm.bi.ə/
translation icon : cumbia
  • 17 International Latin-American popular styles, and the cumbia in particular, had become an index of urbanism particularly for migrants from the highlands.
  • cumbia andina
  • cumbia song
  • cumbia rhythm

We're going to be playing some Banda, some cumbias.

Examples

  • As the vibrant notes of cumbia filled the air, everyone joined in to dance with joy and excitement.

  • The cumbia rhythm section enters after two statements of the A phrase.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Come on, this is a cumbia rhythm.

  • He really knows his cumbia rhythms.

  • By now, the fusing of elements from the cumbia and wayno has become organic.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The shift from the wayno to the cumbia rhythm is easily accomplished because of their basic similarity.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Speaking of the importance of cumbia andina, a puneno migrant observed:

    Academic text (1990)
  • The swelling population of second-generation Andeans in Lima has led to the growing importance of cumbia andina as a commercial and cultural phenomenon.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The festival featured a live band that played traditional cumbia, inspiring the crowd to dance all night.

  • During the celebration, they danced to the lively beats of cumbia, showcasing their cultural heritage.

Surface Forms

cumbia singular
cumbias plural

Etymology

Cumbia comes from Colombia and reflects a mix of African, Indigenous, and Spanish traditions. One popular idea is that it comes from an African word like cumbe, meaning 'dance' or a drum rhythm, so cumbia is the lively music and dance with a strong beat.