Mapalé

Mapalé is a Colombian musical genre and dance original of the Afro Colombian culture of the Pacific and Caribbean Regions of Colombia.

Origins

The dance was introduced by African slaves brought in ships by the Spanish, the slaves came mainly from Angola. The dance represents an erotic courtship between a male and female couple characterized by its frenetics acts towards each other. The couple dances to a fast rhythm of cumbia music (original from Colombia) also originally of the African slaves brought to Colombia. The movements are based on the Mapale Fish movements when it was out of the water. From Colombia, the Dance spread to the South American and Central American Pacific coastline from Panama all the way down to Peru, including Ecuador.