Radiokijada: Afro Peruvian and Electronic fusion made between Lima and Paris

Afro Peruvian music was born centuries ago from the mix of African, Native and European rhythms and cultures. Its evolution and fusion continues today, as the music of Black Peruvians -what some call “Creole” music- is like most Peruvian arts, going under constant change and expansion.

I just received this video (recorded in part in Lima and El Carmen, the historical Afro Peruvian town) and I am already dancing while I blog about it.

RadioKijada, is a music project launched between Lima and Paris, created by Peruvian percussionist Rodolfo Muñoz -from the Chinchivi and Sandunga groups- and Swiss born Christoph H. Müller -from the famous Paris based group Gotan Project, which fusions Tango with Electronica.

Quema - Burns
From El Carmen to Paris

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RadioKijada has already launched its first 12 inch vynil record -with 3 tracks and a remix- recorded at the Mushik studios in Lima and Substudios in Paris, and mastered at The Exchange in London. Among the musicians involved in this project are: maestros Juan “Cotito” Medrano, Felipe Cabrera, Jose “Pichio” Ballumbrosio, Aurora Quintana, Kata and Peta Robles, Henri Ueunten, Mariano Liy and Alex Porras among others.

In their website, RadioKijada says it all:

“RadioKijada have a contemporary approach to Afro Peruvian music while respecting its traditions. They confront Afro Peruvian percussion instruments like the Cajon [Afro] Peruano or the emblematic Quijada (donkey’s jaw bone) with other traditional instruments like the Tambor Bata, and with European tradition of Electronica and Fusion, hence coming up with a new breed of popular dance music, very rhythmic and percussive but also melodic and vocal. The fusion of cultures, which started five centuries ago, goes on, and there are still many things to know and discover, not only for Peruvians but everybody.

Afro Peruvian music is a unique blend of Spanish, Andean and African traditions. Its history started tragically: with the forced movement of slaves that ended in South America in 15th/16th century. For a very long time forgotten by the audiences, it plays today an important role in Peru and has started to be known and appreciated internationally. Thanks to Afro Peruvian artists like Nicomedes and Victoria de Santa Cruz or the Vazquez family, rhythms like Lando, Zamacueca, Lamento, Panalivio, Pregon and Festejos have been kept alive and are very popular today. They are played by the new generation of musicians in Peru, and some of them participate in RadioKijada.”

The music of RadioKijada reminds me a lot of Novalima, another great approach of Afro Peruvian music mixed with Electronica along with other contemporary tunes. This is a new music genre that definitely has a great future, and I hope to see RadioKijada touring the US soon.

Links

www.myspace.com/radiokijada

www.radiokijada.com

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