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News Articles: Cumbia

Cachitas Now!, una banda disidente, le canta a un público universitario y queer en La Plata. La vocalista es Melissa Lobos Cachitas Now!, a dissident band, sings to a university and queer audience in La Plata. Their singer is Melissa Lobos.

Argentina: La reina de la bailanta

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet

Video: How cumbia arrived in Monterrey, Mexico

A look at how cumbia found a second home in Mexico's "Little Colombia."

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By:
  • Karla Gachet and
  • Keren Carrión
Cachitas Now!, una banda disidente, le canta a un público universitario y queer en La Plata. La vocalista es Melissa Lobos Cachitas Now!, a dissident band, sings to a university and queer audience in La Plata. Their singer is Melissa Lobos.

Argentina: The queen of bailanta

One of the most listened-to genres in the Americas, photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet
Celebration of San Juanes in Cotacachi, province of Imbabura, Ecuador. The Cumbia Andina is a mixture of indigenous rythms from the north of the country, such as San Juanitos played and danced to during the celebrations, and Colombian cumbia.

Ecuador: La reinvención andina de la cumbia

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet
Celebration of San Juanes in Cotacachi, province of Imbabura, Ecuador. The Cumbia Andina is a mixture of indigenous rythms from the north of the country, such as San Juanitos played and danced to during the celebrations, and Colombian cumbia.

Ecuador: The Andean reinvention of cumbia

Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet
Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, known as Monky, enters his studio en Lima on October 21, 2025. Monky was a pioneer in the making of the posters that publicize cumbia concerts and are now considered chicha art. These colorful posters still cover the grey city of Lima and other cities advertising upcoming concerts. Some say the florescent colors were inspired by the the clothing worn by the women in the indigenous communities.

Perú: Chicha, el pulso eléctrico de la cumbia

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Ivan Kashinsky
Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, known as Monky, enters his studio en Lima on October 21, 2025. Monky was a pioneer in the making of the posters that publicize cumbia concerts and are now considered chicha art. These colorful posters still cover the grey city of Lima and other cities advertising upcoming concerts. Some say the florescent colors were inspired by the the clothing worn by the women in the indigenous communities.

Peru: Chicha, the electric pulse of cumbia

Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Ivan Kashinsky
Spaghetti Cumbia posa para un retrato en Vasquez Rocks, en el norte del condado de Los Ángeles, el 26 de marzo de 2022.

Los Ángeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, una banda nacida de la fusión cultural

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Ivan Kashinsky
Spaghetti Cumbia posa para un retrato en Vasquez Rocks, en el norte del condado de Los Ángeles, el 26 de marzo de 2022.

Los Angeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion

Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Ivan Kashinsky
People dance at Brenda Cazárez's 40th birthday party as Sonido Colombia plays music in the Privada Cusco neighborhood of Monterrey, Mexico, on Aug. 12, 2023.

México: Los DJs de cumbia del barrio

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet and
  • Ivan Kashinsky
People dance at Brenda Cazárez's 40th birthday party as Sonido Colombia plays music in the Privada Cusco neighborhood of Monterrey, Mexico, on Aug. 12, 2023.

Mexico: The cumbia DJs of the streets

One of the most listened-to genres in the Americas, photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet and
  • Ivan Kashinsky
Grupos gaiteros, bailarines y público en general, desfilan hacia el cementerio de San Jacinto, Colombia, el 14 de agosto de 2022.

Colombia: The birthplace of cumbia

One of the most listened-to genres in the Americas, photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet and
  • Ivan Kashinsky
Grupos gaiteros, bailarines y público en general, desfilan hacia el cementerio de San Jacinto, Colombia, el 14 de agosto de 2022.

Colombia: la cuna de la cumbia

Uno de los géneros más escuchados en las Américas, los fotógrafos Karla Gachet e Iván Kashinsky documentan la cumbia en Colombia, México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Estados Unidos.

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By:
  • Karla Gachet and
  • Ivan Kashinsky
The tecnocumbia group Tierra Canela performs at the Mapogo Club, an LGBTQ bar in Quito, Ecuador, on Dec. 9, 2023. The female group, an icon of the movement, gained viral popularity across all Ecuadorian social classes with its songs and dance steps.

A NPR visual series takes a look at the rhythm of cumbia

One of the most listened-to genres in the Americas, photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

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By:
  • NPR Staff
Fito Olivares performs during the Cinco de Mayo celebration held at Rosedale Park on May 5, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. Olivares, known for songs that were wedding and quinceañera mainstays including the hit "Juana La Cubana," died Friday. He was 75.

Tejano musician Fito Olivares dies at 75

The noted saxophonist, known for songs that were wedding and quinceañera mainstays including the hit "Juana La Cubana," died in Houston. He started playing professionally in his teens.

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By:
  • The Associated Press