A fast, powerful Afro-Colombian dance of the Caribbean coast, driven by drums, clapping and call-and-response song.
Mapalé comes from Afro-descendant communities of the Caribbean coast. Its name is linked to a fish, and many dancers describe its quick, jumping movements as the energy of fishing and hard work by the river. Drums and clapping set a very fast tempo, and dancers answer with strong torso, hip and leg movements, often in couples or groups. Today mapalé is one of the most spectacular dances of the Barranquilla Carnival and of folkloric ballets, while its roots remain in Afro-Colombian music and memory.
