Concept in Definition ABC

One of the cultural elements of the identity Colombia's collective is the music and the dance and, more specifically, the gender of vallenato. Vallenata music is native to the Caribbean coast, but currently this genre can be heard and danced throughout the country and even in other parts of the continent American.

Historical origin

Most historians maintain that the melodies of the vallenato come from another genre, "las colitas", popular celebrations of the lower classes. Another of his musical antecedents is "las piqueiras", which were the places where improvised couplets were sung. European emigrants, especially Germans, introduced the use of the accordion as an accompanying instrument.

The song and the poetry Spanish and African rhythms are also present in vallenato. The tradition Indigenous music contributed some of their typical instruments, such as the bongo, the drum, the vallenata box or the guacharaca. All these elements merged at the end of the 19th century, but with the invention of radio in the 20th century, vallenato became a mass phenomenon.

Types of vallenato according to the content of their letters

The love theme, especially frustrated love, is the most characteristic of this musical genre. In his songs stories of jealousy, infidelity or heartbreak are told. There is also a costumbrista version and some of their songs introduce an element of denunciation of the social situation. Some scholars of the genre affirm that in the lyrics of the songs the patriarchal tradition, the role of women in Colombian society and even machismo can be appreciated.

In recent decades a new concept, vallenatology, has become popular.

With him, he alludes to the cultural, historical and social traits that make up this musical genre. In this sense, to understand vallenato it is necessary to understand the colonial period of Colombia, its deep social differences, migratory phenomena and, above all, miscegenation. cultural.

Vallenato is more than a musical genre, as it is linked to the character and way of understanding the life of Colombians, their sense of rhythm, oral tradition and historical legacy.

The cultural dimension of this musical genre is evident in the fact that the traditional vallenato has been declared by UNESCO as Heritage Immaterial of Humanity.

Photo: Fotolia - ndaumes