It is hard not to take an interest, when looking into the cajón y Afro-Peruvian instruments, in the diverse and related artistic and cultural forms. Cuisine, dance, costumes, poetry… all of them participate of this costal and Afro-Peruvian universe.
The décima is a poetic form of Spanish origins, shared by many Latin American countries, in line with a long tradition of literary improvisation coming from Europe and Africa. The Afro-Peruvian people were and still are the main representatives of this popular practice.
The décima is composed by ten octosyllabic verses, which rhymes are organized according to the pattern « ABBAACCDDC ». Most of the time, the décimas in Peru are recited or sung. They start with a four verses stanza, used as thematic guide and final verse for the following décimas/stanzas. What we usually call a décima is actually a poem made of four décimas, which means four stanzas of ten verses each.
The tradition of reciting or singing décimas in Peru is particularly alive the Northern departments (Lambayeque, Piura), in Lima, Ica and Arequipa. In the past, these décima performances used to entertain during family gatherings. The talent of the decimists were regularly probated during décimas competitions, also called “counterpoints of décimas“, spontaneously carried out at parties and pubs.
Nowadays, this kind of décimas is still in use in various Northern localities. In Zaña, Hildebrando Briones, who wrote around 450 décimas, is one of the greatest representatives.
[Click on CC icon in the player to change the language of the subtitles.]
Thus, the décima is a popular poetic form, based on simple everyday life vocabulary. It is directed to everybody, on any topic, « from your mother’s birthday to your father’s affairs, social issues and the environment, including the love of the land and the country », says Hildebrando Briones.
The décima can be sung and/or smoothly accompanied by the guitar. This accompaniment is called socavón.
Another poet and decimist from Lima gave its name to this movie : Ritmos Negros del Perú (« Black Rhythms of Peru »). He is Nicomedes Santa Cruz (1925-1992), bard of the négritude movement in Peru, and the author of many décimas inspired in the Peruvian popular life, and in particular the Afro-Peruvian traditions.
Ritmos Negros del Perú, recited by Nicomedes Santa Cruz
|
Ritmos de la esclavitud De África llegó mi abuela Por una moneda sola En la plantación de caña Murieron los negros viejos |
Rhythms of slavery Against bitterness and sorrows. Keeping time to the beat of the chains Black rhythms of Peru.From Africa arrived my grandmother Adorned with conch-shells, They brought her, those Spaniards, In a three-masted ship. Marked by wax and fire The “carimba” scar was the cross she bore. And in South America To each strike, in her suffering, The Black drums gave Rhythms of slavery.For one only coin They sold her again in Lima And at the hacienda La Molina She served the Spanish people. With other Blacks from Angola She earned for her tasks Mosquito bites on her veins Sleeping upon hard ground, And nuthin’ ain’t no consolation Against bitterness and sorrows…On the sugarcane plantation Was born that sad socabón dance In the rum-press at the mill, The Black man sang the zaña. The machete and the scythe Cut his dark hands; And the Indians with their reed-flutes, The Black man and his tambourine, Sang of their sad luck Keeping time to the beat of the chains.They died, those old Black folks… But within the dried fibres of the cut cane One hears the zamacueca dance And the distant panalivio. One hears the festivities they Sang of in their youth. From Cañete to Timbuktu, From Chancay to Mozambique They carried the clear pitter-patter, The tap-tap-tap of those Black rhythms of Peru. |
_______________________________________________________________
* N. Santa Cruz refers here to the sung décima.
** Afro-Peruvian musical genres.