This first edition of Sonido Babel [Babel Sound] is devoted to one of the most famous Latin American musical genres: cumbia. Originally from Colombia, its rhythm and infectious energy can now be found on every corner of the earth.

Antonio shares with us some fascinating facts about rumba, a popular Cuban rhythm, from its African roots to its influence on other musical genres.

What is candombe? In this episode from Sonido Babel [Babel Sound], we'll travel to Uruguay to find out more about this musical style that is influenced by more than twenty different African cultures as well as the indigenous Charrúas and Guaranis, the Spanish, and the Portuguese.

Let's discover yet another upbeat Colombian musical genre with Antonio, porro, by listening to its melody and witnessing how it is danced.

In this episode of Sonido Babel [Babel Sound], we'll learn a bit about the origin and history of rap music. We've even invited rapper Junior High to join us, who'll help you learn more Spanish with a very special rap.

Babel Music introduces us to the quitiplás, a fascinating musical instrument from Mestizo America that is made of bamboo and comes in different sizes and pitches.

In this episode of Sonido Babel, we'll learn about plena: a musical genre from Puerto Rico that is played with a multitude of different instruments and deals with a plethora of topics from religion, events, recipes, advice, and even superstitions.

In this episode of Sonido Babel [Babel Sound], we are introduced to Venezuela's national instrument: the cuatro, which can be heard in almost all Venezuelan folk music.

In this second part of our series on the Venezuelan cuatro, musician Leonardo Lozano explains to us how the manner in which this traditional instrument is played varies between geographical regions.

In this third part of the series on the Venezuelan cuatro, Leonardo Lozano shares with us the names and functions of some of the parts that comprise it.

Tatiana explains the symbolism behind the colors of the Mexican flag- red, white and green- as well as preparing a dish which both includes those colors and honors those values.

Juan paints outlines on his tiles using a paintbrush and manganese oxide, but at one time practitioners did this by laying down fine strings dipped in wax, and this explains why Juan still calls the technique he uses cuerda seca, or “dry cord.” Note that he describes the technique as one of alto relieve, or “high relief,” which is the opposite of bas-relief (low relief).

Julia and Pipo talk about their Christmas traditions- or lack thereof- and how the meaning of Christmas seems to have changed in modern times.

As the fifteenth birthday of young girls in Venezuela and most other Latin American countries marks a special rite of passage into womanhood, it is traditional for the family to throw them a big birthday bash.

Located in the beautiful Genal Valley in the Serrania de Ronda comarca in the province of Málaga, the gorgeous town of Genalguacil, Spain, has been deemed a "museum town" due to the permanent artwork that is seamlessly interspersed throughout it. Let's hear more from our host, Fermin, about what else this unique city has to offer.