Influences in Rumba
Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:54 pm
I've come across different resources explaining the influences in Cuban rumba, particularly the
presence of the diana at the beginning of the song being related to Moorish influences in Spain
and the structure of the decima coming from a Spanish literature form.
Recently I have read a book called Gypsies and Flamenco where it describes the gypsies having
originated in India, and traveled to Spain with the Moors. The vocal syllables related to the diana
is a contribution of the gypsies in Spain, where it continues to exist in flamenco, which is largely
influenced by and related to gypsies in that country, and then this could have possibly traveled from Spain to Cuba
and made it's way to the afro-cuban rumba in that country.
So could rumba contain influences from Africa, Spain, the Moorish Empire and India?
I personally find this appropriate as gypsies have a long history of being oppressed in other countries, and the
expression of the experience in their music could be something original rumberos in Cuba could relate to.
This last bit is just personal conjecture on my part.
presence of the diana at the beginning of the song being related to Moorish influences in Spain
and the structure of the decima coming from a Spanish literature form.
Recently I have read a book called Gypsies and Flamenco where it describes the gypsies having
originated in India, and traveled to Spain with the Moors. The vocal syllables related to the diana
is a contribution of the gypsies in Spain, where it continues to exist in flamenco, which is largely
influenced by and related to gypsies in that country, and then this could have possibly traveled from Spain to Cuba
and made it's way to the afro-cuban rumba in that country.
So could rumba contain influences from Africa, Spain, the Moorish Empire and India?
I personally find this appropriate as gypsies have a long history of being oppressed in other countries, and the
expression of the experience in their music could be something original rumberos in Cuba could relate to.
This last bit is just personal conjecture on my part.