Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean

Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean

Peru - Cajita Rítmica Afroperuana (Afro-Peruvian Little Rhythmic Box)

The Cajita Rítmica Afroperuana (Afro-Peruvian Little Rhythmic box) is a percussion instrument devised by the population of African descent in the central coastal area of Peru, associated to their dances and ritual festivities. There are documentary and visual records of its presence in afro-coastal celebrations since the 18th century.    

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The use of the cajita musical (music box) is illustrated in Sheet N° 151 of the Códice de Trujillo, an anonymous drawing commissioned by the bishop of Trujillo, Baltasar Martínez de Compañón, towards the end of the 18th century. It also appears in the watercolours of the mulatto artist Pancho Fierro, in the decade of the 1830s. In both cases, the images associate the musical expression with the afro-coastal population.

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Afro-Peruvian Little Rhythmic Box. Cajita Rítmica Afroperuana. Photo: Juan Carlos La Serna

Other data of interest

Peru

Historical name

Cajita Rítmica Afroperuana (Afro-Peruvian Little Rhythmic Box)

Address

Toda la costa del Perú (All the coastal areas of Peru)  

Links to social networks

http://administrativos.cultura.gob.pe/intranet/dpcn/anexos/37_1.pdf?7356203

Classification

Intangible heritage expression

Category

National monument

Function-Testimony

Access level

Free

Property kind

Community

Declarations

  • National Heritage en 2007-12-28 RDN 1765/INC-2007