Trailer "The Cajon with Its Black Soul" by Claudia Ruiz

2007 El Cajón con Alma, DV, Documentary, 59 Min.

This documentary film shows the birth of the "Cajón" as a musical instrument. It was created by slaves for not having their own natural instruments. Since the 16th Century the "Cajón" has been introduced into the diverse types of music of the Peruvian coast.

The interviewers lead us through the history of the Cajón and show us its influence in Creole music. The black slaves didn't only influence in music. They also supported the economic development of Peru with their manpower and their knowledge, especially in the agriculture and the handicraft.

Since the colonial decade the afro-descendants, natives, "mestizos" and Chinese are looking for their identity and their place in the Peruvian society.
The documentary film is dedicated to the marginalized and forgotten people who were transferred from their native countries towards Peru. These people are still waiting to receive the recognition for their contribution to the Peruvian society.

Webpage: http://www.almanegraperu.com

Participations of International Film Festivals
El Cajón con Alma Negra
Toronto Hispano-American Film Festival 2007 (Canada - May 2007)
III Festival Internacional de Cine de Monterrey (Mexico -- August 2007)
Festival de Lima ElCine PUPC 2007 -- Imagen Joven Internacional (Perú -- August 2007)
International Black DocuFest (IBDF) Atlanta 2007 (USA -- September 2007)
14. Festival Latinamericano de Video Rosario, (Argentina -- September 2007)
09. Edition of the Festival "Filmar en América latina" in Genève (Switzerland -- Nov. 2007)
29. Festival Internacional del Nuevo Cine Latinoamericano in Havanna ( Cuba -- December 2007)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• black
• soul
• cajon
• percussion
• peru
• colonialism
• racism
• ethnic
• claudia
• ruiz
• afro
• peruvian
• documentary

[JetBlueIce]

The Peruvian Cajon is still the Peruvian Cajon, no matter what music it's played in or what country it's played in. If a Spanish Guitar is played in Poland, would you then call it the Polish Guitar? If an American Banjo became popular in Thai music, would you then call it a Thai Banjo? That would be idiotic.

[JetBlueIce]

And just one clarification here. I love Flamenco music and I think the Spanish as well as any other people can play the Peruvian Cajon. But just as in Peru and other countries where the Spanish Guitar is still called the "Spanish" Guitar, so also should the Peruvian Cajon always be the Peruvian Cajon no matter where it's play or with which style of music.

[robledejusticia1]

Wow, this is great! I'm a peruvian musician and this is fantastic. Is this a DVD? A TV excerpt? What is this? If it's a DVD, I'd love to purchase it, anywhere! Somebody...?

[Mboomre2]

@JetBlueIce The Drumset is another great example of how an new instrument can be created by "borrowing" and combining original instruments from many cultures to create something that gives no credit to it's origins.

[Mboomre2]

@JetBlueIce

That doesn't rob it of it's history...but don't deny that it has been changed by another culture....Every percussion instrument in the symphony orchestra comes from another culture....sometimes they are used traditionally...most of the time, they are just sound sources for the creative composer....rarely if ever are the countries of origin credited.....e.g. Marimba (adapted from Africa), Bass Drum (adapted from Turkey), Tom-tom (adapted from China)...

[Mboomre2]

@JetBlueIce The origins of the guitar are not from Spain....and you can find types of castanets in Egypt (long before the Flamenco).....People create ....most use what is conveniently available....or adapt an instrument to fill their needs. When a particular instrument is adapted and becomes identified with a style, it's difficult not to associate it (with it's adaptations) to that country or style....

[BYMEADRINK]

us blacks never get the credit we are do im so sick of people with white skin stealing our shit an putting a pasty face on it when i seen those white people hitting those mutha fuckn boxes in the clip i wanted to come threw the pc an beat they ass

[JetBlueIce]

Then there is the Peruvian Cajon, which is the 6 sided box with the sound hole on the back side. So because there are more than one instrument with the same name, it is more precise to identify which one is being refered to, the Cuban Cajon or the Peruvian Cajon.

[JetBlueIce]

Not exactly true since there are several instruments that are called Cajon, but they are instruments which originated in different countries. There is the Cuban Cajon which is more of a trapezoidal drum shaped like a conga, which tappers down towards the bottom. (incedentally the Peruvian style cajon has become popular even in Cuba in addition to their own native instrument wich they call cajon)

[JetBlueIce]

Yes in essense you are right and correct, from that perspective. The reason I would use "Peruvian Cajon" at this point in many circumstances, is because many times I've had people then say... oh wait, I thought the Cajon was from Spain...... so in a manner of speaking, it can be a way of fishing out some incorrect perceptions ;) But I do agree with the correctness of your assertion, in it's essence!

[luvalcal]

I agree with you also and we absolutely should highlight the peruvian origin of the Cajon...my only point (and concern) is that when we say "Peruvian Cajon", if I was a person unfamiliar with subject, instead of suggesting a Peruvian "origin" it tells me that if there's a "peruvian cajon" there might also be an "x" country cajon...so, by saying Peruvian Cajon we kinda implicitly validate the existence of the term "spanish cajon" (as if they were completely different instruments)...or the guitar.

[JetBlueIce]

I think you mis-understood me luvalcal. I agree with you. It's name is just Cajon. But when presented in Europe, many flamenco groups are trying to deceive people by presenting it as flamenco cajon or spanish cajon. What I was saying is that the Cajon is still Peruvian. But for the most part, in Peru and other andean countries, when they include the spanish guitar on instrument descriptions, they DO call it the spanish guitar which is fine.