Cuba is a Caribbean island that has imparted a wide spread influence on various musical styles in the last two centuries. The core of many Cuban musical identities lies in the “cabildos,” a type of social unification amongst African slaves transported to the island. Cabildos maintained African cultural customs, and this continued following the Emancipation in 1886, which required Cubans to merge with the Roman Catholic Church. Simultaneously, a religion known as Santeria was emerging and has quickly increased all over Cuba, Haiti and other neighboring islands.
Santeria inspired Cuba’s music, since percussion is an intrinsic aspect of the religion. Every deity, or orisha, is linked with emotions, vibrant colors; drum sequences; called toques, and Roman Catholic saints. Rudiments of Santeris music had materialized in well-known folk structures by the 20th century.
Cuban music has its main ancestry in West Africa and Spain; however, through time it has been influenced by various genuses from differing countries. The most influential countries are Jamaica, United States, and France. Equally Cuban music has been enormously influential in various countries as well, adding to not only the growth of salsa and jazz, moreover other influences include West African Afro-Beat, Argentinean Tango, Spanish Nuevo Flamenco, and Ghanaian High-Life.
Music that is part of a particular culture or country is interlocked with its history. Cuban music is thought to be one of the most popular and well-like music genres in the world. Some believe the reason is due to its creolized European and African genesis. As various people began visiting Cuba, its culture and music began to develop from its initial Indian origins and became a synthesis of numerous styles.