Palenquero music

Palenquero music relates to the musical traditions that come from a small community in Colombia called, San Basillo de Palenque. This an area in Northern Colombia where escaped slaves came to during the late 17th century. The cultural space of Palenque de San Basilio encompasses social, medical and religious practices as well as musical and oral traditions, many of which have African roots. In 2005 the UNESCO recognized Palenquero music as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" due to its unusual drumming patterns as well as rhythms. Central to the cultural space of Palenque de San Basilio is the Palenquero language, the only creole language in Latin America with a lexical Spanish basis and grammatical characteristics of Bantu languages. The language constitutes a vital factor in reinforcing social cohesion among community members. The musical rhythms and beats found in this area are a significant part of cultural preservation, as well as showcasing African rooted beats as that is where it originates from.