Beginnings in African dance: Cumbia most likely began in the nineteenth century as a type of courtship dance style created by enslaved Africans on the coasts of Caribbean countries and Colombia., In the 1940s, Colombian clarinetist and arranger Lucho Bermúdez, who listened and admired the American bandleader and clarinetist Benny Goodman, decided to form a group in the big band style to make cumbia, and other related styles, swing like an American big band., Of course, there’s no certainty about the exact birthplace of cumbia, but research suggests that it originated in the region around Mompox, formerly known by the indigenous name of Pocabuy (roughly the basin around Mompox and El Banco)., The origins of cumbia music can be traced back to the slave trade in Colombia, where African drumming traditions were brought over and eventually combined with Spanish musical styles., Its roots trace back to Colombia, where it emerged as a unique blend of indigenous, African, and Spanish musical traditions. This article will explore the origins, development, and global influence of cumbia, highlighting its cultural significance and the key elements that define this beloved genre. I. The Birthplace of Cumbia: Colombia., The first cumbia song recorded was by Luis Carlos Meyer, followed by popular artists like Tony Camargo and Rafael de Paz. Later, the genre fanned out to the urban, working-class Mexico City neighborhoods of Penon de los Banos, San Juan de Aragon and Tepito..