African Derived-Genre in Spanish Speaking Caribbean Countries
Bomba
Puerto Rican Bomba is the first native music of Puerto Rico,
created in the sugar plantations by slaves more than 400 years ago ("Bomba
(Puerto Rico) - Wikipedia", n.d.). Bomba is both a traditional dance and
musical style of Puerto Rico, with originating roots in the island's history of
African slavery in the 17th century, who were brought by Spaniards. To them,
bomba music was a source of political and spiritual expression and used music
to communicate. The lyrics conveyed a sense of anger and sadness about their
condition, and songs served as a catalyst for rebellions and uprisings. This
traditional music and dance style is Puerto Rican because it has elements of
the Taínos (Arawaks) like the maraca and Cuás (2 wooden sticks previously
played at the side of the Bomba Barrel), the Spanish like the footsteps in the
dancing and the greatest influence of is the African native, representing the
Puerto Rican cultural mix. Bomba uses 4 different instruments: Cuá, a Maraca,
the Buleador (drum) and the Subidor (drum). The music can be an upbeat holandé,
which is played and danced with great enthusiasm or a yubá, which is more
somber and spiritual. The songs, many of which are still sung today, showcases the
lamento among the sugarcane plantation workers, who bared their collective
souls during gatherings. It has evolved into a community expression of Puerto
Rican culture. Bomba is truly about a creative, interactive relationship
between dancers, percussionists, and singers. Today it's practiced as a
communal activity in its centers of origin in Loíza, Santurce, Arroyo, Guayama,
Mayagüez and Ponce. Also, Puerto Rican migrants have brought the tradition to
some parts of the U.S.
Plena
Plena music originated between the late nineteenth century and
the early twentieth century when Afro-Caribbean immigrants from barrio San
Antón, located in Ponce, Puerto Rico, began to blend African beats with Puerto
Rican music styles. Like bomba, plena is a percussion-driven musical tradition
from Puerto Rico that move people to dance, reflecting the African heritage of
Puerto Rico, but are basic distinctions between in rhythm, instrumentation, and
lyrics. Plena music, also known as la plena, is an Afro-Puerto Rican musical
genre known for its heavy percussion and energetic sound, which normally
comprises of panderetas, maracas and hollow gourds known as güiros, guitars,
and accordions. The bomba dance style that often accompanies plena music is a
call-and-response dance where partners take turns telling an expressive story. Plena has long been used as a way for
working-class Puerto Ricans to communicate with each other and critique
society. Plena pulls from the folkloric traditions of Latin music and is
recognizable for its robust percussion with a simple rhythm. It wasn’t until
the 1930s that plena became widely accepted as the iconic music of Puerto Rico.
Famous composers such as Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Mon Rivera, and Manuel
Jiménez helped make plena music a staple of popular culture. Today, plena music
saw a revival in the 1990s and 2000s with plena bands such as Plena Libre,
Viento de Agua, Los Pleneros de La 21 keeping the sound alive (2021).
This is a video of Dancers from the Julia De Burgos Cultural
Arts Center performing at International Cleveland Community Day in the Atrium
of the Cleveland Museum of Art. I chose this video because it reminded me of
Afro-Cuban especially with the couple’s dance. It also had such a relatable
plot with the Bahamian men spending the money whether it’s at the bar or number
house, they would spend the money bringing home nothing or little to nothing to
their wives.
References
(2021). Retrieved from https://www.masterclass.com/articles/plena-music-guide#3-instruments-used-in-plena-music.
Bomba (Puerto Rico) - Wikipedia. En.wikipedia.org. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomba_(Puerto_Rico).
Bomba is an Essential Expression of Puerto Rican
Culture. Discover Puerto Rico.
Retrieved from
https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/bomba-is-essential-expression-puerto-rican-culture.
Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena: Shared Traditions
— Distinct Rhythms. Smithsonian Folkways
Recordings. Retrieved from https://folkways.si.edu/puerto-rican-bomba-plena-shared-traditions-distinct-rhythms/latin-world/music/article/smithsonian.
Youtube.com. (2013). Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8GBQZp8sAQ.
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