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Early Spanish colonists enjoyed folk music and dances from Spain, whether they’d immigrated to Cuba or been born on the island to parents of Spanish descent. Various genres were popular. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, more highbrow music and dance styles from across Europe had become popular among Cuba’s whites, especially well-to-do urban residents.

This illustration from 1595 shows African slaves processing sugarcane on a Caribbean plantation. Beginning in the 16th century, the Spanish imported millions of slaves from West Africa to work in Cuba and their other Caribbean colonies. Today, it is estimated that approximately 35 percent of Cubans are descended from African slaves.

Roots of Cuban Music and Dance 11