Vallenato

Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the

Vallenato, along with cumbia, is the most popular folk music of Colombia. It primarily comes from the Colombia's Caribbean region. Vallenato means, literally, "born in the valley", this valley is located between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá in northeast Colombia. The name also applies to the people from the city this genre originated: Valledupar (from the place named Valle de Upar - "Valley of Upar"). Vallenato and cumbia were recently added as a category in the Latin Grammy Awards.

This form of music originated from farmers that, keeping a tradition of Spanish minstrels (Juglares in spanish), mixed also with the West African-inherited tradition of griots (African version of juglar), who used to travel through the region with their cattle in search of pastures, or to sell them in cattle fairs. Because they traveled from town to town and the region lacked rapid communications, these farmers served as bearers of news for families living in other towns or villages. Their only form of entertainment during these trips was singing and playing guitars or gaita flute, and their form of transmitting their news was by singing their messages. The first form of vallenato was played with gaita flutes, guacharaca and caja, and later adopted other instruments like guitars. These troubadors were later influenced by Europe's instruments; piano and accordion. Shocked with the sound from the accordion, troubadors probably obtained later on accordions from Aruba and Curacao. Vallenato was considered music of the lower class and farmers, but gradually started penetrating through every social group during the mid-20th century. Don Clemente Quintero—a prominent member from the region's elite—was a lover of this music, usually accompanied by liquor, was a form of entertainment for this almost isolated region. He then decided to start a parranda (party) inside the very strict Valledupar Social Club with friends, this triggered an acceptance for the music and it became a regular musical feature at parties, carnivals and reunions, not for dancing, but for listening to these juglares stories. When Alfonso Lopez Michelsen became president of Colombia, he showed interest in the region because his ancestors were from the region. After his presidency, he pushed for the creation of the Cesar Department and became its first governor. During his time as governor, he pushed for the creation of a festival for the city. Accompanied by writer and reporter Consuelo Araujo Noguera and vallenato composer, Rafael Escalona, they created the Vallenato Legend Festival. During one of the early versions of this festival, Daniel Samper, a prominent cachaco from Bogotá, started dancing Vallenato with his wife. First it was not accepted by Vallenato followers, but it later became a tradition that spread to parties, concerts nightclubs.