How Bomba Became Puerto Rico's Most Popular Genre

Bomba music is made for dance and is unique to Puerto Rico. It is generally believed to have started during the 17th century in Loiza, a town in the northeastern part of the island. The music has its roots in Western Africa where slaves were taken and brought to the island. The bomba flourished wherever West African slaves and their descendants lived and worked, usually in the coastal plains on colonial plantations

History

The African slaves were forbidden to worship their own gods, so they incorporated their own music into the worship of St. James. At festivals in honor of St. James, bomba music was played and the traditional vejigante mask was worn to scare away pirates and evil spirits.

Children at a dance school in Hormigueros dance the bomba

Rhythm

Usually a female voice called “laina” will start the song with a phrase which evokes a primitive call. The chorus answers this call while the percussion instruments supports them. The vocals use melody only and do not use harmony. Meanwhile, the dancers are in pairs and perform their moves never touching each other.

Dancers are very important to bomba because they take turns challenging the drummer with their moves. This is done in a call and response form. The soloist and the chorus back up the drummer in the responses. The words are often traditional although there can be much improvisation, often about community life and the cultural history of Puerto Rico.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boUw7wYZFZo

Instruments

Percussion instruments used in bomba include the buleador providing rhythm support, a subidor that dialogs with the dancers and provides the rhythm, palitos (sticks stuck onto a resonating surface), and a maraca (only one) usually played by one of the female singers.

Dancers

It is no wonder bomba is so interesting and can be so captivating with the dancers in beautiful and colorful flowing skirts challenging the drummer with their moves. In bomba it is the drummer who follows the dancer, not the other way around. Depending on the dancer it can be very sensual as the dancer teases and cajoles and challenges the drummer. This will continue as long as the stamina of the dancer lasts. The rhythmic exchanges between the lead singer, the chorus, and drummers and the “suggestive conversation” between the highest pitched drum and the dancer can build to an almost sexual tension that has everyone on their feet.

If you are planning on being in Puerto Rico, make sure you get a chance to see and hear this wonderful and fast paced cultural music. It can be experienced in many places between Loiza in the northeast to Ponce in the southwest along the coastal plains.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.