Search Results for: Kizomba

Vinny Rivera releases his New Kizomba Hit “Compatible”

North America / USA / Massachusetts

The sensation of Kizomba music of all time, Victor Vincent Rivera, better known as Vinny Rivera, releases to the musical scene his new Kizomba single “Compatible” off the upcoming album “La Cosecha”. An album that will be centered in big melodies, the explosion of rhythms and the Tropical sound characteristic of Kizomba music and whose genre we have become accustomed to hear in his sweet and melodious voice.

The #1 Latin Kizomba Artist in the World who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, during his total successful European Tour where performed songs coming off of his album “La Torre”, Vinny achieved to conquer audiences of all ages, cultures and languages, falling in love to the international public.

Vinny has arrived this year with this new video of his most recently hit “Compatible” taking beautiful footage the Nederlands and starring with the international model Lillyann heaven, scenes in marvelous landscapes with a romantic history based on Rivera seducing a beautiful lady to establish a loving relationship with her. COMPATIBLE is destined to establish itself among the best song in the billboards of popularity in the world because it mixture sensuality with a cadence that invite you to dance softly with your dance partner to the rhythm of the Kizomba so popular in festivals and special events currently.

Vinny Rivera continues to shine in the music entertainment scene in America and the rest of the world increasing his fans between knower and professional dancers of this Latin Kizomba music, and if the LA COSECHA album will be so excellent like COMPATIBLE song, no doubt, he will be one of the artists with fruitful career and major projection nowadays…

Eduardo Paim: The Father of Kizomba

Eduardo Paim, the creator of the musical genre called Kizomba, is well-cherished in the Latin Dance community for being one of the most influential musicians in Latin music history. He is internationally renowned as the godfather of Kizomba music.

Born in Angola in the 1980s, Kizomba music is a blend of Kilapanga, Semba, and Angolan Merengue. Semba is the traditional Angolan music. As compared to Semba, Kizomba has a more sensuous rhythm. It’s slower and more romantic than Semba. As the principal language of Angola is Portuguese, therefore Kizomba songs are mostly sung in Portuguese. Coming from the Bantu term “Kimbundu”, Kizomba means fiesta or party. The forefathers of Kizomba are Eduardo Paim and his band SOS that he founded in 1982.

Eduardo Paim

Though it was the album “Luanda minha banda” Eduardo Paim made his successful debut with, his real breakthrough is considered “Do kaiaia” which was his second recording in 1992.

This album exceeded 50,000 copies. Later on, he released the album “Kambuengo” which was a great success too. “Ka-Ne-La” “Rosa baila” and “Chindu a tempo” are still on the top of the list of his popular songs.

The father of Kizomba, Eduardo Paim, calls himself “the precursor of Kizomba”. According to him, it was in the early 80s that the process of creating Kizomba started. There were two groups, namely SOS and Afro Sound Star (ASS). The use of kilapanda (type of music and dance from Angola. It is related to semba and kizomba, two other popular genres of Angolan music) as a reference style by the group Afro Sound Star inspired him a lot. Moreover, traditional African music such as Semba also contributed to his inspiration for the development of a new music genre. Today, kizomba is danced worldwide.

Just like everything else in this world, Eduardo Paim also had his ups and downs in his journey to music. Having said that, a time came when his schedule was just reduced to one show per year from six shows a month! At this point, he dreamed to build up his own record studio, and started working for it. And yes, he succeeded in earning a name as a producer in Angolan music industry. He named his studio “EP Studios”. Being a producer, he supported many Angolan singers of the new generation. With his release of the album “Maruva na taca” he made his comeback to the music industry in 2006.

Eduardo Paim with Paulo Flores

Though it was the album “Luanda minha banda” Eduardo Paim made his successful debut with, his real breakthrough is considered “Do kaiaia” which was his second recording in 1992. This album exceeded 50,000 copies. Later on, he released the album “Kambuengo” which was a great success too. “Ka-Ne-La”, “Rosa baila”, and “Chindu a tempo” are still on the top of the list of his popular songs.

Many musicians of the new generation of Angolan music participated in his album “Maruva na Taca”. Yuri da Cunha, Nancy Vieira, Paulo Flores, Big Boss, and Bonga are to name a few. He also released his new cd “Etu mu dietu” a long period after “Maruva na taca”. You can keep yourself updated about his shows and releases by subscribing to Eduardo Paim Official Channel on YouTube.

Eduardo Paim, the father of Kizomba, has given birth to such a music genre that knows no borders. Known for having a sensuous, slow, and insistent rhythm, Kizomba is danced not just in Angola but also in other African countries and in USA and Europe as well. Moreover, Kizomba is also gaining a lot of fame in China, especially in cities such as Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing.

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Origins of Kizomba

Kizomba is a very catchy musical genre that has its origin in Angola, Africa. It can be said that its birth was in the 1980s; but if we want to understand its history, we must look further back to the 50s and 60s.

It was then that certain traditional dances of the African country and one of them was semba, began mixing with other rhythms both from its country of origin and other cultures after Africa was colonized by Europe in the 14th century. It is from there that a fusion of rhythms begins in which partner dancing takes center stage.

However, the old continent did not do all the work. Argentina and Cuba also played an essential role in the form in which semba must be danced.

In Portugal, the word Kizomba has its origin in all musical rhythms that derive from zouk, with which it is often constantly confused. It is a type of dancing laden with great sensuality and highly contagious that has become very popular with the passage of time, particularly in countries such as the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, among others. Many Latin Americans consider that this is a breath of fresh air because it does not seem like anything they previously knew in terms of dance.

One of the reasons that it became so famous around the world is that this dance is very easy to learn due to its softness and simple dance steps. If you want to learn to dance, kizomba is a very good option to begin with.

Kizomba lets the couple play the music they dance. The more intimate the members of the couple, the more likely that the dance will be much more sensual and there will be much more complicity between men and women who enjoy this pleasure.

How kizomba originated

As we have said previously, kizomba has its origin in Angola, which was a colony of Portugal in the mid-1970s. With the arrival of Cuban military personnel, certain rhythms came from the Caribbean island that started to be used by various Angolan artists for their musical projects. The result was a fabulous mix of fast local rhythms with much slower, romantic and partially synthetic sounds.

The resulting genre was danced with semba and merenque, which made it known as kizombadas and, subsequently, kizomba.

By the 90’s, the word kizomba started to be used in Portugal to refer to all African rhythms danced in the nightspots of the most important cities in the European country. With the passage of time, the term would be used to refer to the musical genre and many other sub-genres with which it shares history.

Once this type of dance began to take hold in the rest of Europe, it was in France where all these rhythms that resemble one another started to be called kizomba, leading to the controversy over whether it and soft zouk are the same. Given that on certain islands belonging to France they were the cradle of zouk, it can be assumed that this has kindled heated debate even further still.

At the beginning, kizomba was only able to spread throughout the African continent, but migration allowed it to reach Europe and America respectively where a lot of passionate dance groups of this genre began to appear. The number of followers accumulated by this genre in countries such as Portugal, France or Spain was very huge.

Currently, there are a number of exponents of this kind of music that became famous worldwide such as Nelson Freitas, Djodje, Anselmo Ralph, Matias Damasio, among many others.

Kizomba in Europe

It is incredible the number of places where you can enjoy this spectacular dance. One of them is the world famous Eiffel Tower, where there are many options to learn or improve the dance steps. In France, the genre has been very popular, so much so that many places for dancing celebrate exclusive kizomba nights known as kizomba soirées by the locals. Considering the major African influence on this dance, those wishing to find out more will be able to enjoy a wonderful mix of dance styles and cultures that will leave no one indifferent.

In these places, you can share with a very impressive amount of tourists and foreigners from around the world. This contributes enormously to linkages and friendships between people of other cultures and other ways of seeing the world, which may be very rewarding from all points of view.

In the case of Lisbon, Portugal, it can be said that this is another place that every lover of kizomba in Europe should visit. Besides being a city that receives all its visitors with genuine hospitality, the dancing and music are ever-present. Among the many places you can go to enjoy the dance, it is important to mention the Estudio Sabor & Dança dance studio, the Academy World Dance and the Kizomba Power Dance School.

Regarding Barcelona, Spain, what can be said is that this is one of the best European cities for dancing as there is a gigantic variety of musical styles that can be found there. There are always parties and events worth attending. One of those dances that can be found in the city’s nightlife is kizomba that has gained popularity in recent years.

Latin music events and festivals were based on salsa and bachata, but kizomba has completely changed that reality. Today, it is very common to find festivals and congresses dedicated exclusively to this dance and its most loyal lovers. If you want to learn to dance this genre, there are a number of schools and workshops that could be very useful such as Así se Baila, Seven Dance and Baila Barcelona.

Kizomba in Latin America

Many people who do not know the origin of the kizomba think that it originated in Latin America due to its type of dancing, but the fact is that this dance was not even known in most countries of the continent. In fact, its main boom started relatively recently in some places such as Colombia, where it began to be known not long ago. In that country, there are currently academies and teachers who are dedicated exclusively to this musical style, which has started to happen in other Latin nations.

In Venezuela, it is said that it has been danced for more than 10 years, but it began to be known a short while ago thanks to some videos on the major social networks after it became famous in Europe. The pioneers of this practice were a certain number of instructors born in the Caribbean country after being trained in Brazil. Following this, kizomba was the subject of a great deal of interest in many young Venezuelans who want to learn to dance it. There are not many records on places to dance where this genre may be found, but there is no doubt that soon it will be like this.

Kizomba in Asia

There are many events and congresses linked to kizomba in Asia, which have a great influx of visitors, even when it is commonly believed that Asians are not fans of this type of rhythm. Experience with congresses of the last years has given the impression that this is not true. In fact, there are many fans of this rhythm from the continent who want to know all events and competitions details that are carried out in their countries for the coming months.

Japan is one of the nations where this type of event can be found the most. Such is the case of the Japan Kizomba Festival that has been going on in the country for many years due to the high level of attendance of visitors.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WOVBNULkYc

Historical events that gave birth to kizomba

History of kizomba

There are many musical genres and rhythms that we love and make us want to dance just by listening to them, but in most cases, we do not know their origin or how they became what they are today. Such is the case of kizomba, whose origins are both particular and fascinating, so we want to explore a bit about this interesting story for the knowledge of all those readers who still do not know it.

This dance modality that has become well known in Latin America and the United States in recent years has its origins in Angola in the 1960s as a fusion of ”semba” and other African rhythms, but it was not as simple as it sounds. In fact, many things happened before kizomba became what we know, some of which have to do with historical events that led to the creation of this musical genre indirectly.

People dancing kizomba in a dance studio in Angola

Historical context

Angola was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, fact from which the European country began to impose its culture, language, religion and political system in the occupied territory. In the same way, the colonizers took advantage of the Angolans in every possible way, but the best known was the labor exploitation to which they were subjected to obtain resources and the suppression of their national identity.

The situation became so unbearable that there has been an emergence of numerous anti-colonialist movements throughout the country such as the National Front for the Liberation of Angola, the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. This resulted in the Angolan population demanding the rights they had as inhabitants from their own country and which had been forcefully taken away from them. The following years were marked by intense armed conflict, a lot of political instability and international intervention.

Finally in 1975, Angola gained independence from Portugal to become a country free from the yoke which settled down on it for decades. However, the legacy of colonization in every area of national life was so profound that it could not be swept way from one moment to another, including traditional music and dances. Both Angolan music and dance ended up mixing with European and Portuguese rhythms in general, resulting in a colorful range of sounds that have been conquering the whole world.

Angolan women dancing tradicional rhythms

Origin of kizomba and its name

Returning to semba that was mentioned at the beginning, it was its union with other African rhythms such as zouk that gave origin to kizomba as such. The word ”kizomba” comes from ”kimbundú” or ”quimbundú” which means ”party”. Kimbundú is a language spoken in some Angolan provinces and the Portuguese language incorporated some of its terms such as ”xinga” which means ”curse”.

On this subject there is much controversy, since lots of hypotheses are floated to explain the origin of kizomba and one of them states that this genre does not exist as such, but it is a version of the already existing zouk, but sung in Portuguese. There are also some studies indicating that kizomba comes from ”bèlè”, which is a dance inherited from African ancestors who came to the Island of Martinique as slaves to work in the sugarcane plantations.

By mixing bèlè and the European polka, Martinican musicians created something called ”beguine”, which was spreading in Parisian popular dances. When these rhythms were mixed with more commercial music in the 1970s, zouk originated and this term makes direct reference to the spontaneous parties in Martinique. ”Zouk” means ”party” in Creole, which is a language spoken by West Indians that emerged from the mix of French with other African languages. Coincidentally, it has the same meaning as ”kizomba” in Kimbundu.

Some contestants at the Luanda Semba Festival 2019

After zouk spread to French Guiana and Brazil, it returned to Africa, especially to Angola and Cape Verde, where it merged with semba and finally gave birth to kizomba.

What how is kizomba is today

Kizomba tended to be slow-paced and static and not required many turns, but that changed with the passage of time. Today, it includes legs tangled and recreates much more visual moves than before.

Something that characterizes the genre is the circle dance with forward and back steps, which has been very appealing to dancers from all over the world despite their origin. Besides, it is very easy, sensual, different and exotic.

Kizomba as a result of war and colonization

The fight for Angola’s independence was a long and difficult struggle that endured for several decades. The country was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century, and for centuries the Portuguese imposed their culture, language, and political system on the Angolan people. However, the Portuguese colonization also led to the exploitation of the country’s resources, the forced labor of its people, and the suppression of its cultural identity.

In the mid-20th century, there came a wave of anti-colonial movements across Africa and Angola was no exception. The Angolan people began to demand their right to self-determination and freedom from colonial rule. In 1961, the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) conducted a guerrilla war against the Portuguese, followed by the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) in the following years. The struggle for independence was marked by heavy fighting, political instability, and international intervention, but in 1975, Angola finally got its independence, ending over four centuries of Portuguese colonial rule.

Angola, officially known as the Republic of Angola, is a country located in southwestern Africa. It is known for its rich culture, vibrant music, and stunning natural beauty. One of Angola’s most famous cultural exports is kizomba, a popular dance and music genre that originated in the country and has spread to other parts of the world.

Angola has a long and complex history, marked by centuries of colonization, slavery, and war. The country was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century and remained under Portuguese rule until 1975, when it got its independence. The legacy of colonialism and the struggle for independence have had a profound impact on Angola’s cultural identity, including its music and dance traditions.

Kizomba, which means “party” or “celebration” in Kimbundu, one of the Bantu languages spoken in Angola, emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as a fusion of Angolan semba music, Caribbean zouk, and other African rhythms. Semba is a traditional dance and music genre that originated in Angola and is characterized by its joyful tempo, complex rhythms, and energetic movements. Zouk is a popular dance and music genre that originated in the French Caribbean and is characterized by its slow and sensual tempo, soft melodies, and romantic lyrics.

Young woman dancing kizomba

Young woman dancing kizomba

Kizomba music, in contrast to semba, is characterized by its slow and sensual tempo, soft melodies, and rich harmonies. The lyrics of kizomba songs are often sang in Portuguese, the official language of Angola, and deal with themes of love, romance, and social issues. Kizomba dancing is characterized by its close embrace and smooth, flowing movements. It is often danced in pairs, with the leader guiding the follower in gentle steps and turns.

Kizomba became popular in Angola in the 1990s, especially in Luanda, the country’s capital. The dance quickly spread to other parts of the country and became an important part of Angola’s cultural heritage. Kizomba dance parties, known as “kizombadas,” were held in clubs, bars, and community centers, attracting people of all ages and backgrounds.

In recent years, kizomba has gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in Europe, where it has become a popular social dance. Kizomba festivals and workshops have been held in many countries around the world, attracting dancers and music lovers from different cultural backgrounds.

Kizomba is not only a dance and music genre but also a cultural expression that reflects the history and identity of Angola and its people. It is an important part of the country’s cultural heritage and a source of pride for Angolans around the world.