CONNECT TO THE BEST OF CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
CARTAGENA CONNECTIONS
  • HOME
    • START HERE!
    • BOOK TOURS
    • CHOOSE YOUR TOUR
    • BACHELOR PARTIES
    • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT CARTAGENA
    • OUR SERVICES
    • EVENTS
    • GALLERY
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PAYMENTS
    • CANCELLATION POLICY
    • POLICY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
    • CONTACT
  • DAY
    • WALKING TOURS
    • STREET FOOD TOUR
    • STREET ART TOUR
    • MERCADO BAZURTO TOUR
    • PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
    • PRIVATE TOUR
    • SHOPPING TOUR
    • BAR TOUR
    • COOKING CLASSES
    • CHIVA TOURS
    • FOODIE EXPERIENCES >
      • COOKING CLASS
      • RUM EXPERIENCE
      • COFFEE
      • ICE CREAM EXPERIENCE
      • COCKTAIL EXPERIENCE
      • CHOCOLATE MUSEUM
      • TOBACCO EXPERIENCE
  • PLAY
    • PRIVATE BOATS
    • ISLAND HOPPING
    • BEACH AND ISLANDS >
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
      • Rosario Islands >
        • PA'UE Rosario Islands
        • Bendita Beach
        • BORA BORA
        • Fragata Island House
        • Isla Coralina
        • Isla Grande Gente del Mar
        • Isleta - Rosario Islands
        • LUX ISLAND
      • Baru >
        • SABAI BEACH RESORT
        • Aura Baru
        • Playa Blanca
        • Nena Beach Playa Blanca
        • Banana Beach
        • Isla Baru Playa Manglares
      • Tierra Bomba >
        • MARLIN BEACH CLUB
        • Blue Apple Beach House
        • Eteka Beach
        • FENIX BEACH
        • Namaste Beach
    • PRIVATE ISLANDS
    • VOLCANO & MANGROVE TOURS
    • BOAT TOURS >
      • Bona Vida Catamaran Tours
    • LA BOQUILLA TOURS
    • AVIARY
    • PALENQUE TOUR
    • HORSERIDING
    • HIKING
    • PARAGLIDING
    • YOGA
    • WILDLIFE ADVENTURE
    • DANCE CLASSES
    • SAILING
    • MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR
    • BAY TOURS
    • DIVING
    • FISHING
    • ATV
    • WATERSPORTS
    • SKYDIVING
    • KAYAK
    • BEACH DAY CLUBS >
      • Amare Beach Club
      • Wala Beach Club
      • NAMASTE BEACH
      • NENA BEACH PLAYA BLANCA
      • Banana Beach
  • STAY
    • ACCOMMODATION >
      • PRIVATE ROOMS
      • PRIVATE VILLAS
      • ISLANDS >
        • TIERRA BLANCA ISLAND HOUSE
        • LAS ISLAS HOTEL
        • ISLA MATAMBA
        • BLUE APPLE BEACH HOTEL
    • COWORKING
    • LEARN SPANISH
    • VOLUNTEER
  • PAY
    • PAY US
    • SHOPPING >
      • WHAT TO BUY
      • LA SERREZUELA
    • BUY ART
    • BUY PROPERTY
  • SAY
    • THE BEST >
      • BEST BARS
      • BEST BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH
      • BEST RESTAURANTS
      • BEST FOOD TO TRY
      • BEST LIVE MUSIC
    • BARS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • Bazurto Social Club
      • Bonche Gastrobar
      • Cafe Havana
      • Calle Adentro
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • Mondo
      • La Jugada
      • Eivissa
      • The Clock Pub
      • Media Luna Hostel
      • La Movida
      • Manglar GastroBar
      • Tertulia
      • Townhouse
    • WHAT'S ON >
      • WILD BRUNCH
      • New Years Eve
      • Film Festival
      • LGBQT
      • EVENTS JANUARY
    • RESTAURANTS >
      • Alquimico
      • El Baron
      • Carmen
      • Manglar GastroBar
      • Salon Tropical
      • Cocina de Pepina
      • Demente Tapas Bar
      • Don Juan
      • La Mulata
    • CAFES >
      • Al Alma
      • EPOCA CAFE
    • BLOG
    • PEOPLE WE LOVE
    • PAGES WE LOVE
    • IN THE NEWS
    • FAQs
  • STRAY
    • PANAMA
    • MINCA
    • SANTA MARTA

CHAMPETA CONQUERING THE WORLD

20/1/2018

1 Comment

 
It’s Saturday and your Cartagena friends have invited you to join them for a night out in a typical “disco”. “What kind of music do they play?” you ask, nervously wondering if they will expect you to move your hips and feet in the way they all seem inherently able to do. “Crossover”, they confidently reply. Err, right. For the uninitiated, this basically means an ongoing medley of latin hits covering genres from salsa to merengue to vallenato to electronica. The night proceeds normally enough; there’s lots of wiggling, lots of singing along, and way too many shots of “guaro”. And then, suddenly, the music changes and so does the entire atmosphere. This new song has a kind of happy, buoyant melody and everyone starts grinning. ‘It’s Champeta!’’ Your friend tells you excitedly. Some couples glue together for some serious rhythmic grinding, others start marching theatrically on the spot, others start doing something that reminds you of the funky chicken. The music is catchy, it’s joyful - and you’re hooked.
What you don’t know is that Champeta’s inclusion in this crossover medley, not just in Cartagena, but across Colombia, is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Back when Champeta, or as it was originally known, Terapia, was the musical “therapy” for Cartagena’s hardworking and impoverished Afro-Descendants, Colombia’s “well-to-do” upper classes considered it low-class and vulgar, indicative of a classist society that associated black culture with undesirable. In those days (we’re talking the 70s and 80s), being called a “champetudo” was considered an insult. An entire subculture grew around the genre in defiance; dance, language, art and fashion. Now, decades later, Champeta’s undeniable appeal has earned it a cool-club status that has all Colombians and the rest of the world clamouring to join: National top 10 lists will feature at least 3 Champeta songs, and reformed reggaeton princesses are now trying to learn thost “vulgar” dance moves. If you don’t want to be left out, here’s some Champeta basics to get you started.

Champeta - comes from the word for machete, which the workers arriving to dance at the picós would wear tied around their waist after their day’s shift. Some of the dance steps incorporate a machete chopping action reflecting this.

Picó - The enormous sound-systems that were originally transported to different neighborhoods on the back of “pickup” trucks. The music machines would be painted with images and graphics that would then later give the name to the picó, such as El Tigre or the most famous, El Rey de Rocha.

Meque or meke - is the force and potency of the sound system and the general energy and frenzy of a champeta song.

Espeluque - The third part in a champeta song where the rhythm changes and gets more intense and everyone is whipped into such a frenzy, their hair ends up a big mess

El Caballito - one of the more iconic dance moves represents riding a little horse. Also check out La Borracha and La Camita.

​
1 Comment

    AUTHOR

    A collection of musings, insights and experiences gathered by an energetic and enthusiastic Australian girl loving life in Cartagena, Colombia.

    Archives

    December 2023
    October 2023
    May 2023
    December 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    December 2018
    October 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    August 2016
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013

    Categories

    All
    Annoying Stuff
    Beach
    Breakfast
    Cartagena
    Champeta
    Cheap
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    Events
    Festivals
    Food
    Getsemani
    Give Back
    Halloween
    Islands
    Local Advice
    Music
    Open-air
    Postcard
    Shopping
    Social Distancing
    Souvenir
    Things To Do
    Top Picks

    RSS Feed

About us

About Cartagena Connections
About Us



OUR SERVICES

Tours in Cartagena
Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Activities in Cartagena
Package stays in Cartagena
Events in Cartagena

LOCAL INSIGHTS

Read our insider blog to learn about the best restaurants, bars, beaches and activities in Cartagena.

We're Social

Like us, follow us, brag to your friends that you're going to Cartagena!
Copyright 2013 | Cartagena Connections | Manga, Calle 26 #15-45, Edificio Espinosa, Cartagena de Indias | [email protected]