Chicha Cumbia, the electrical pulse of Lima : The Image Present : NPR

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Chicha Cumbia, the electrical pulse of Lima : The Image Present : NPR


Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, often called Monky, enters his studio in Lima on Oct. 21, 2024. Monky was a pioneer within the making of the posters that publicize cumbia live shows and are actually thought-about chicha artwork. His posters nonetheless cowl Lima and cities past, promoting upcoming live shows.

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That is a part of a particular collection, Cumbia Throughout Latin America, a visible report throughout six international locations developed over a number of years, protecting the folks, locations and cultures that preserve this music style alive.

The folks of Peru have many definitions for the phrase chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, well-liked tradition, well-liked artwork and, in fact, Peruvian cumbia. It has additionally been used as a derogatory time period, mocking immigrant tradition in Lima throughout the mass migrations of Indigenous Andean folks to Lima within the twentieth century. Relating to music, the time period has turn into extraordinarily controversial.

High school students dance folkloric music, such as Huayno, in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco on November 3, 2025. Huayno music was mixed with Colombian cumbia, among other genres, to make a kind of Peruvian cumbia known as chicha.

Highschool college students dance folkloric music, akin to huayno, within the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru, on Nov. 3, 2024.

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PERU, SICUANI - Women gather after a celebration for the 137 anniversary for the city of Sicuani in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. People say that the colors used for the clothing of the indigenous people inspired the colors of the posters that promote cumbia concerts are known as chicha art. Armonía 10, a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, originally founded in 1972, played in Sicuani that night.

Ladies collect after a celebration for the 137th anniversary for the town of Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024. Armonía 10, a Peruvian orchestra that performs cumbia and was initially based in 1972, performed in Sicuani that night time.

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PERU, LIMA - Berardo Hernández Jr. known as Manzanita Jr., holds his guitar in his kitchen in Lima, Peru, on November 2, 2024. Berardo’s father, Manzanita, is known for having a part in creating the sound of a new genre known as chicha, which emphasizes the electric guitar and mixes Colombian cumbia, with huayno, which is folkloric music from the Peruvian Andes, along with Cuban guaracha, rock ’n roll and other styles of music.

Berardo Hernández Jr., often called Manzanita Jr., holds his guitar in his kitchen in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 2, 2024. Hernández’s father, Manzanita, is understood for having an element in creating chicha’s sound.

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In a small peña, or neighborhood membership, in Lima, two legends — Berardo Hernandez Jr., the son of Manzanita, and Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto — stuffed the venue with intricate and melodic electrical guitar sounds, soloing at a fast tempo, utilizing their fingers as an alternative of picks. Followers smiled and danced, soaking within the magical sonic expertise. Acosta, Manzanita and Enrique Delgado, of Los Destellos, all had an element in creating the chicha style, which emphasised electrical guitar and was uniquely Peruvian.

Berardo, often called Manzanita Jr., aligns with the speculation that every one Peruvian cumbia could be thought-about chicha. Pancho, however, insists that chicha is particularly Tropical Andina, a sub-genre that mixes Colombian cumbia with Andean folkloric music, often called huayno. Alfredo Villar, an writer and artwork historian, says chicha “is probably the most advanced second of Peruvian id, as a result of it mixes every thing — from its deepest roots to its most excessive and sophisticated exterior influences. Because of this it’s so tough to outline … Chicha will all the time shock you.”

People drink chicha in a checheria in the sacred valley, near Cusco, in the pueblo of Calca on November 6, 2025. Chicha, a fermented corn drink was sacred to the indigenous of the region, and became a term to describe Peruvian Cumbia. The people of Peru have many definitions for the word chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, popular culture, popular art, and of course, Peruvian cumbia. It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima, during the mass migrations from the Andes to Lima in the twentieth century. When it comes to music, the term has become extremely controversial.

Folks drink chicha in Calca, Peru, on Nov. 6, 2024. A fermented corn drink, chicha was sacred to the Indigenous of the area earlier than it turned a time period to explain Peruvian cumbia.

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A woman stands next to an “Inca cuy” in the sacred valley, near Cusco, in the pueblo of Lamay on November 6, 2025. Cuyes, or guinea pigs, where sacred to the indigenous of the region. Chicha, a fermented corn drink was also a sacred to the indigenous of the region, and became a term to describe Peruvian Cumbia. The people of Peru have many definitions for the word chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, popular culture, popular art, and of course, Peruvian cumbia. It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima, during the mass migrations from the Andes to Lima in the twentieth century. When it comes to music, the term has become extremely controversial.

A girl stands subsequent to an “Inca cuy” in Lamay, Peru, on Nov. 6, 2024. Like chica, the fermented corn drink, cuyes, or guinea pigs, have been sacred to the Indigenous of the area.

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PERU IQUITOS - Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, plays a bombo drum in his house in Iquitos, Peru. Los Wembler’s were founded in 1968 and were one of the first to play a new sub-genre of Peruvian Cumbia, known a cumbia Amazonica. The band mixed Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music to create a unique genre.

Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, often called Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, performs a bombo in his home in Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 26, 2024. Los Wembler’s was based in 1968 and was one of many first to play a brand new sub-genre of Peruvian cumbia, identified a cumbia Amazonica. The band combined Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electrical guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and different kinds of music to create a singular style.

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A view of the barrio of Belén seen from the city of Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 26, 2024.

A view of the barrio of Belén seen from the town of Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 26, 2024.

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The inconceivable mixture of Colombian cumbia, Cuban guaracha, Andean huayno and psychedelic rock, in addition to numerous different genres, together with jazz and bossa nova, that melted collectively in Lima on the finish of the Nineteen Sixties created a very scrumptious sound. Chicha peaked within the ’80s as Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, often called Chacalón or El Faraón de la Cumbia, and Los Shapis, an Andean band from Huancayo, introduced chicha to the lots.

PERU, IQUITOS - The art of Ashuco, Jose Araujo, a Amazonian chicha artist, covers the walls and couple dance and talk in El Refugio, a bar in Iquitos, Peru, known for live cumbia music on October 26, 2024. El Refugio is also known to be a place where lovers escape to spend time together. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

Artwork by José “Ashuco” Araujo, a Amazonian chicha artist, covers the partitions of El Refugio, a bar in Iquitos, Peru, that is identified for dwell cumbia as and {couples} dance and speak on Oct. 26, 2024.

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Alfredo Villar Luquin, a writer who has immersed himself in the world of chicha, puts his hand over a painting of Chacalón in his house on November 11, 2024. The painting is by Monky, Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, who is a pioneering chicha artist. Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, known as Chacalón, brought chicha to the masses in Lima.

Alfredo Villar Luquin, a author who has immersed himself on the planet of chicha, places his hand over a portray of Chacalón in his home on Nov. 11, 2024. The portray is by Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, the pioneering chicha artist higher identified by “Monky.” Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, often called Chacalón, introduced chicha to the lots in Lima.

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PERU, SICUANI - Fans of Armonia 10 watch as the band plays at the 137 anniversary for the city of Sicuani in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. Armonia 10, a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, was originally founded in 1972.

Followers of Armonía 10 watch because the band performs on the 137th anniversary celebration for the town of Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024. A Peruvian orchestra that performs cumbia, Armonía 10 was initially based in 1972.

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Chacalón, who was the son of migrant mother and father and grew up in a barrio on the cerro of San Cosme, working odd jobs, turned a megastar amongst marginalized migrants within the capital. Hundreds would come down from the barrios on the mountains above Lima to see him sing from the center in regards to the struggles of every day life and the migrant expertise, giving start to the saying, “When Chacolón sings, the mountains come down.” Los Shapis made historical past in 1983 once they stuffed a stadium in Lima, demonstrating the ability of chicha and the brand new Andean residents of Lima. Chacalón died on the age of 44; 60,000 folks attended his funeral. Los Shapis would go on to tour the world.

Estella Gonzalez, from the band, Son Estrella, sings on the street to promote the band in Iquitos on October 27, 2025. The band plays cumbia, as well as other tropical music. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

Estella Gonzalez, a member of Son Estrella, sings on the streets of Iquitos on Oct. 27, 2024, to advertise the band.

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PERU, SICUANI - Jose Luis Mendoza Zapata, bongo player and Leandro Lozada, singer of Armonia 10, stand in their hotel room before a concert in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. Armonia 10 is a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, originally founded in 1972.

Jose Luis Mendoza Zapata, bongo participant, and Leandro Lozada, singer of Armonía 10, pose for a photograph of their lodge room earlier than a live performance in Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024.

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PERU, LIMA - Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto, holds his guitar in his house in Lima, Peru, on November 2, 2024. Acosta is known for having a part in creating the sound of a new genre known as chicha, which emphasizes the electric guitar and mixes Colombian cumbia, with huayno, which is folkloric music from the Peruvian Andes, along with Cuban guaracha, rock ’n roll and other styles of music.

Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto, poses for a photograph together with his guitar in his dwelling in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 2, 2024.

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Final November, in Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce, throngs of individuals crowded round graves bringing foods and drinks to the deceased throughout Dia de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day. As the sunshine started to fade over the desert mountains surrounding the capital, 4 saxophonists performed huayno music from Huancayo. The sound echoed off the partitions of graves as households danced and drank beer. Chacolón could possibly be heard from the audio system of a road vendor, and a household performed Los Shapis on transportable audio system whereas visiting their family members. Forty years later, chicha was nonetheless very alive within the Peruvian capital.

People sell flowers outside of a cemetery as motorcycles drive by in the Iquitos, Peru, on October 28th, 2024. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

Folks promote flowers exterior of a cemetery as bikes drive by within the Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 28, 2024.

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PERU IQUITOS - Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, visits his dad Salomon Sánchez Saavedra, Peru. Salomon founded the band with his five sons in 1968. Los Wembler’s were one of the first to play a new sub-genre of Peruvian Cumbia, known a cumbia Amazonica. The band mixed Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms and other styles of music to create a unique sound.

Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, often called Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, visits the grave of his father, Salomon Sánchez Saavedra, at Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce on Oct. 28, 2024. Salomon based the band together with his 5 sons in 1968.

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PERU, LIMA - Four saxophonists from Huancayo, play huayno music as a family dances while they visit their deceased loved ones on Día de Todos los Santos in the cemetery of El Sauce in Lima on November 1, 2024. Huayno music was mixed with Colombian cumbia to make a kind of Peruvian cumbia known as chicha.

4 saxophonists from Huancayo, Peru, play huayno music as a household dances whereas they go to their deceased family members on Día de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day, in Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce on Nov. 1, 2024.

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This protection was made with the help of the Nationwide Geographic Explorer program.

Ivan Kashinsky is a photojournalist primarily based in Los Angeles. You possibly can see extra of his work on his web site, IvanKphoto.com, or on Instagram, at @ivankphoto.



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