Nengón - genre
Nengón is a traditional Cuban music and dance style that originated in the mountainous region of Guantánamo (eastern Cuba).
It is considered one of the precursors to changüí and later son cubano, which went on to influence salsa and other global genres.
Key Features
- Origins: Rooted in rural Afro-Cuban communities, especially in the Baracoa– Guantánamo region.
- Music Style:
- Syncopated, repetitive tres (Cuban guitar) or string patterns
- Call-and-response singing tradition
- Slower, more deliberate rhythm than changüí
- Instruments:
- Tres (Cuban guitar)
- Marímbula (plucked box bass)
- Maracas
- Bongó or other percussion
- Vocals
- Dance:
- Danced in pairs
- Simple, grounded step pattern
- More restrained compared to later Cuban dances
- Cultural Importance:
- Preserves African and Spanish elements
- Together with kiribá, forms a “missing link” in Cuban music history
- Connects early Afro-Cuban rural styles → changüí → son cubano → salsa
Evolution Path
- Nengón → Kiribá → Changüí → Son Cubano → Salsa
Nengón is not just a musical style but a living cultural heritage that shows how diverse influences shaped the foundations of modern Cuban and Latin music
Changui Santiago: Nengón en La Casa del Changüí
- Son traditional
- Son urbano
- Son montuno
- Son moderno.
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- No clave
- Feet not lifted of the ground
The dance features a shuffling footwork style—dancers glide their feet rather than lifting them.
- Originated in Guantánamo
Lees meer >Kiribá
An old form of traditional music from eastern Cuba.
The Spanish guitar arrived in Cuba with the colonizers and became the seed of Cuban music, blending with African rhythms. From inspiring the tres to shaping son, conjuntos, and even modern timba, its influence runs through every note of Cuba’s musical history.
Lees meer >Timba, the explosive and rhythmically rich genre of Cuban dance music, transformed how the bass functions in popular music. In Timba, the bass is not just foundational — it’s fiery, funky, and free.
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