Traces of Africa in Colombian Music

In Colombian music there are many evidences of African heritage. It is understood that currulao, abosao, champeta, bullerengue and mapale are African-based musical genres, but there is evidence of Africa in other music genres. The word cumbia comes from the Bantu word nkumbi, which means drums. Porro comes from a secret society in western Africa. Bambuco has a format that resembles music from the Bambuko region in Senegal. Villancicos are musical adaptations of African chants. In vallenato two of the rhythms have pronounced African influences. Merengue brings its name and rhythm from the Muserengue, an African culture in Colombia. Puya, the most difficult rhythm in vallenato, is surely structured on African rhythms.