Mozambique (music)
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Mozambique is a vigorous style of Cuban music and dance similar to dengue and pachanga, except faster paced. It does not originate in the country of the same name, and bears no connection to it.
Mozambique features many African instruments, including many different types of drum, as well as the traditional Cuban conga drums and sometimes the saxophone.
The style made its début in 1963, in Havana, on the television programme Ritmos de Juventud, with the presenter surrounded by drummers so in tune with each other that they created a piano-like sound, while simultaneously performing the mozambique dance, which consists of bending the knee and lowering the body at the same time as lifting up a foot while returning the body to its normal upright position, continuing to bend the knees, lowering the body and lifting alternate feet as quickly and vigorously as possible.
The first recording of mozambique onto LP, María Caracoles by Eddy Palmieri, sold millions.
Both the music and the dance have strong Afro-Cuban roots.
Carlos Santana has recorded a mozambique-like song using an organ.
External links
- Granma International article on mozambique (http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2003/septiembre03/vier12/36mozam.html)