Susana Baca and her 'Cause'
In this day and age when uniformity and homogeneity is becoming a way of life we are loosing on the variation and diversity of cultures and languages. Due to the predominance of certain language many other languages are dying a slow death which is so very unfortunate because with the language dies the culture, music, history and stories of the people. One of the most important measure of the development of a language is it's literature (both oral and written) and it's music.
Susana Baca is one such artist who is trying to preserve a dying legacy. She of of Afro Peruvian descent and through her music is trying to preserve and popularize the music of her land. Africans brought as slaves by the Spanish to Latin America gave birth to a new culture which was a mix of their African roots and their new home in Peru and a new genre of music was thus born. I was introduced to Susana's music through a Putumayo CD that I bought last year and which featured the amazing song titled "Maria Lando". I found the darkness, sadness and "sufferation " (as in terms if reggae music) in her voice and music very intoxicating and that is what made me like her. The video is a short introduction to her music, the 'cause' and is followed by a beautiful recording of "Drumi Mobila" (the magic starts at 2:59). Hope you enjoy the music. I think Putumayo is making a real good effort in introducing the world to some amazing artists that otherwise wouldn't be known outside their country due to the the limitation of language and exposure.
Susana Baca - Drumi Mobila
Video credit: Bonnodato
4 comments:
Those CDs are avilable in a lot shops here. I have wondered in they are really any good or just the CD equivalent of 'Rough Guide'
I must go out and get some now.
I think some are good and some are just ok. The ones that I like are "Music from the Coffee Lands" and "Latin lounge"
"Arabic Groove" was not reflective of the diversity of the Rabic music scene. I guess it's trail and error kinda thing!!
it's so nice you discovered susana. she's a great lady of peruvian music (although for peruvians themselves she's waaay behind eva ayllón), i don´t find her songs sad, rather poignant or nostalgic. i saw her live twice, on stage she's a real lady, peaceful , distinguished yet approachable and humble,and the most amazing thing about her is her voice, which sounds unusually fresh and almost girlish for a lady who is over 60.
I was waiting for you to comment on this music. You always have the most interesting and informative things to share. I hope I am able to see her in concert someday too.
Thanks!!
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