Cuba’s music is one of the aspects
of this culture and society in which the coming together of
other earlier cultures can be clearly seen. Not much is known
about the folk music of the Indians who inhabited the island
before the arrival of the Spanish. However, ever since the
Spaniards have set foot in Cuba, bringing along African slaves
with them, the music and dance in Cuba began evolving, combining
distinctive elements from both roots.
African rhythms are evident particularly in
the Afro-Cuban music used in the Santeria religion, a popular
religion, resulting from the combination of the yoruba spirituality
and Catholicism. On the other hand, it is in western and central
Cuban “country songs” called “música
guajira o campesina” that the Spanish element of musical
influence can be found.
Instruments used in Cuban music include the
claves, maracas, guiro, thumb piano, the cowbell, and other
percussion instruments such as the bongos and conga drums.
Some European-style instruments such as the guitar are also
used.
The music and dance styles that are most
popular in Cuba today include rhythms such as the salsa, son,
rumba, mambo, pachanga, timba and cha-cha-cha.
