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Peru: Chicha, the electric pulse of cumbia

Published

6 months ago

October 10, 2025

Peru: Chicha, the electric pulse of cumbia

Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, known as Monky, enters his studio in Lima on Oct. 21, 2024. Monky was a pioneer in the making of the posters that publicize cumbia concerts and are now considered chicha art. His posters still cover Lima and cities beyond, advertising upcoming concerts.

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This is part of a special series, Cumbia Across Latin America, a visual report across six countries developed over several years, covering the people, places and cultures that keep this music genre alive.

The people of Peru have many definitions for the word chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, popular culture, popular art and, of course, Peruvian cumbia. It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima during the mass migrations of Indigenous Andean people to Lima in the 20th century. When it comes to music, the term has become extremely controversial.

High school students dance folkloric music, such as Huayno, in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco on November 3, 2025. Huayno music was mixed with Colombian cumbia, among other genres, to make a kind of Peruvian cumbia known as chicha.

High school students dance folkloric music, such as huayno, in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru, on Nov. 3, 2024.

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PERU, SICUANI - Women gather after a celebration for the 137 anniversary for the city of Sicuani in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. People say that the colors used for the clothing of the indigenous people inspired the colors of the posters that promote cumbia concerts are known as chicha art. Armonía 10, a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, originally founded in 1972, played in Sicuani that night.

Women gather after a celebration for the 137th anniversary for the city of Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024. Armonía 10, a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia and was originally founded in 1972, played in Sicuani that night.

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PERU, LIMA - Berardo Hernández Jr. known as Manzanita Jr., holds his guitar in his kitchen in Lima, Peru, on November 2, 2024. Berardo’s father, Manzanita, is known for having a part in creating the sound of a new genre known as chicha, which emphasizes the electric guitar and mixes Colombian cumbia, with huayno, which is folkloric music from the Peruvian Andes, along with Cuban guaracha, rock ’n roll and other styles of music.

Berardo Hernández Jr., known as Manzanita Jr., holds his guitar in his kitchen in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 2, 2024. Hernández’s father, Manzanita, is known for having a part in creating chicha’s sound.

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In a small peña, or neighborhood club, in Lima, two legends — Berardo Hernandez Jr., the son of Manzanita, and Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto — filled the venue with intricate and melodic electric guitar sounds, soloing at a rapid pace, using their fingers instead of picks. Fans smiled and danced, soaking in the magical sonic experience. Acosta, Manzanita and Enrique Delgado, of Los Destellos, all had a part in creating the chicha genre, which emphasized electric guitar and was uniquely Peruvian.

Berardo, known as Manzanita Jr., aligns with the theory that all Peruvian cumbia can be considered chicha. Pancho, on the other hand, insists that chicha is specifically Tropical Andina, a sub-genre that mixes Colombian cumbia with Andean folkloric music, known as huayno. Alfredo Villar, an author and art historian, says chicha “is the most complex moment of Peruvian identity, because it mixes everything — from its deepest roots to its most extreme and complex external influences. This is why it is so difficult to define … Chicha will always surprise you.”

People drink chicha in a checheria in the sacred valley, near Cusco, in the pueblo of Calca on November 6, 2025. Chicha, a fermented corn drink was sacred to the indigenous of the region, and became a term to describe Peruvian Cumbia. The people of Peru have many definitions for the word chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, popular culture, popular art, and of course, Peruvian cumbia. It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima, during the mass migrations from the Andes to Lima in the twentieth century. When it comes to music, the term has become extremely controversial.

People drink chicha in Calca, Peru, on Nov. 6, 2024. A fermented corn drink, chicha was sacred to the Indigenous of the region before it became a term to describe Peruvian cumbia.

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A woman stands next to an “Inca cuy” in the sacred valley, near Cusco, in the pueblo of Lamay on November 6, 2025. Cuyes, or guinea pigs, where sacred to the indigenous of the region. Chicha, a fermented corn drink was also a sacred to the indigenous of the region, and became a term to describe Peruvian Cumbia. The people of Peru have many definitions for the word chicha: a sacred fermented corn drink, popular culture, popular art, and of course, Peruvian cumbia. It has also been used as a derogatory term, mocking immigrant culture in Lima, during the mass migrations from the Andes to Lima in the twentieth century. When it comes to music, the term has become extremely controversial.

A woman stands next to an “Inca cuy” in Lamay, Peru, on Nov. 6, 2024. Like chica, the fermented corn drink, cuyes, or guinea pigs, were sacred to the Indigenous of the region.

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PERU IQUITOS - Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, plays a bombo drum in his house in Iquitos, Peru. Los Wembler’s were founded in 1968 and were one of the first to play a new sub-genre of Peruvian Cumbia, known a cumbia Amazonica. The band mixed Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music to create a unique genre.

Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, plays a bombo in his house in Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 26, 2024. Los Wembler’s was founded in 1968 and was one of the first to play a new sub-genre of Peruvian cumbia, known a cumbia Amazonica. The band mixed Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music to create a unique genre.

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A view of the barrio of Belén seen from the city of Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 26, 2024.

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The inconceivable mix of Colombian cumbia, Cuban guaracha, Andean huayno and psychedelic rock, as well as countless other genres, including jazz and bossa nova, that melted together in Lima at the end of the 1960s created a truly delicious sound. Chicha peaked in the ’80s as Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, known as Chacalón or El Faraón de la Cumbia, and Los Shapis, an Andean band from Huancayo, brought chicha to the masses.

PERU, IQUITOS - The art of Ashuco, Jose Araujo, a Amazonian chicha artist, covers the walls and couple dance and talk in El Refugio, a bar in Iquitos, Peru, known for live cumbia music on October 26, 2024. El Refugio is also known to be a place where lovers escape to spend time together. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

Art by José “Ashuco” Araujo, a Amazonian chicha artist, covers the walls of El Refugio, a bar in Iquitos, Peru, that’s known for live cumbia as and couples dance and talk on Oct. 26, 2024.

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Alfredo Villar Luquin, a writer who has immersed himself in the world of chicha, puts his hand over a painting of Chacalón in his house on November 11, 2024. The painting is by Monky, Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, who is a pioneering chicha artist. Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, known as Chacalón, brought chicha to the masses in Lima.

Alfredo Villar Luquin, a writer who has immersed himself in the world of chicha, puts his hand over a painting of Chacalón in his house on Nov. 11, 2024. The painting is by Pedro Tolomeo Rojas, the pioneering chicha artist better known by “Monky.” Lorenzo Palacios Quispe, known as Chacalón, brought chicha to the masses in Lima.

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PERU, SICUANI - Fans of Armonia 10 watch as the band plays at the 137 anniversary for the city of Sicuani in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. Armonia 10, a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, was originally founded in 1972.

Fans of Armonía 10 watch as the band plays at the 137th anniversary celebration for the city of Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024. A Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, Armonía 10 was originally founded in 1972.

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Chacalón, who was the son of migrant parents and grew up in a barrio on the cerro of San Cosme, working odd jobs, became a megastar among marginalized migrants in the capital. Thousands would come down from the barrios on the mountains above Lima to see him sing from the heart about the struggles of daily life and the migrant experience, giving birth to the saying, “When Chacolón sings, the mountains come down.” Los Shapis made history in 1983 when they filled a stadium in Lima, demonstrating the power of chicha and the new Andean residents of Lima. Chacalón died at the age of 44; 60,000 people attended his funeral. Los Shapis would go on to tour the world.

Estella Gonzalez, from the band, Son Estrella, sings on the street to promote the band in Iquitos on October 27, 2025. The band plays cumbia, as well as other tropical music. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

Estella Gonzalez, a member of Son Estrella, sings on the streets of Iquitos on Oct. 27, 2024, to promote the band.

Ivan Kashinsky

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PERU, SICUANI - Jose Luis Mendoza Zapata, bongo player and Leandro Lozada, singer of Armonia 10, stand in their hotel room before a concert in Sicuani, Peru, on November 4, 2024. Armonia 10 is a Peruvian orchestra that plays cumbia, originally founded in 1972.

Jose Luis Mendoza Zapata, bongo player, and Leandro Lozada, singer of Armonía 10, pose for a photo in their hotel room before a concert in Sicuani, Peru, on Nov. 4, 2024.

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PERU, LIMA - Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto, holds his guitar in his house in Lima, Peru, on November 2, 2024. Acosta is known for having a part in creating the sound of a new genre known as chicha, which emphasizes the electric guitar and mixes Colombian cumbia, with huayno, which is folkloric music from the Peruvian Andes, along with Cuban guaracha, rock ’n roll and other styles of music.

Pancho Acosta, of Compay Quinto, poses for a photo with his guitar in his home in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 2, 2024.

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Last November, in Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce, throngs of people crowded around graves bringing food and drink to the deceased during Dia de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day. As the light began to fade over the desert mountains surrounding the capital, four saxophonists played huayno music from Huancayo. The sound echoed off the walls of graves as families danced and drank beer. Chacolón could be heard from the speakers of a street vendor, and a family played Los Shapis on portable speakers while visiting their loved ones. Forty years later, chicha was still very alive in the Peruvian capital.

People sell flowers outside of a cemetery as motorcycles drive by in the Iquitos, Peru, on October 28th, 2024. Iquitos is home of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, one of the first bands to create the Cumbia Amazonica genre, mixing Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms, psychedelic electric guitar, animal sounds from the jungle and other styles of music.

People sell flowers outside of a cemetery as motorcycles drive by in the Iquitos, Peru, on Oct. 28, 2024.

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PERU IQUITOS - Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, visits his dad Salomon Sánchez Saavedra, Peru. Salomon founded the band with his five sons in 1968. Los Wembler’s were one of the first to play a new sub-genre of Peruvian Cumbia, known a cumbia Amazonica. The band mixed Colombian cumbia with Amazonian rhythms and other styles of music to create a unique sound.

Helner Misael Sánchez Casanova, known as Tacto, a member of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, visits the grave of his father, Salomon Sánchez Saavedra, at Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce on Oct. 28, 2024. Salomon founded the band with his five sons in 1968.

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PERU, LIMA - Four saxophonists from Huancayo, play huayno music as a family dances while they visit their deceased loved ones on Día de Todos los Santos in the cemetery of El Sauce in Lima on November 1, 2024. Huayno music was mixed with Colombian cumbia to make a kind of Peruvian cumbia known as chicha.

Four saxophonists from Huancayo, Peru, play huayno music as a family dances while they visit their deceased loved ones on Día de Todos los Santos, or All Saints’ Day, in Lima’s cemetery of El Sauce on Nov. 1, 2024.

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This coverage was made with the support of the National Geographic Explorer program.

Ivan Kashinsky is a photojournalist based in Los Angeles. You can see more of his work on his website, IvanKphoto.com, or on Instagram, at @ivankphoto.

Lifestyle

The 11 most challenged books of 2025, according to the American Library Association

Published

6 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The American Library Association’s list of the most frequently challenged books of 2025 includes Sold by Patricia McCormick, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir.

American Library Association

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American Library Association

The American Library Association has released its annual list of the most commonly challenged books at libraries across the United States.

According to the ALA, the 11 most frequently targeted books include several tied titles. They are:

1. Sold by Patricia McCormick
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
3. Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
4. Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
5. (tie) Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
5. (tie) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
7. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
8. (tie) A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
8. (tie) Identical by Ellen Hopkins
8. (tie) Looking for Alaska by John Green
8. (tie) Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Many of these individual titles also appear on a 2024-25 report issued last October by PEN America, a separate group dedicated to free expression, which looked at book challenges and bans specifically within public schools.

The ALA says that it documented 4,235 unique titles being challenged in 2025 – the second-highest year on record for library challenges. (The highest ever was in 2023, with 4,240 challenges documented – only five more than in this most recent year.)

According to the ALA, 40% of the materials challenged in 2025 were representations of LGBTQ+ people and those of people of color.

These books top PEN America's list of the books most often challenged and banned from school classrooms in the U.S. during the 2024-2025 school year.

In all, the ALA documented 713 attempts across the United States in 2025 to censor library materials and services; 487 of those challenges targeted books.

According to the ALA, 92% of all book challenges to libraries came from “pressure groups,” government officials and local decision makers. While 20.8% came from pressure groups such as Moms for Liberty (as the ALA cited in an email to NPR), 70.9% of challenges originated with government officials and other “decision makers,” such as local board officials or administrators.

In a more detailed breakdown, the ALA notes that 31% of challenges came from elected government officials and and 40% from board members or administrators. In its full report, the ALA states that only 2.7% of such challenges originated with parents, and 1.4% with individual library users.

Fifty-one percent of challenges were attempted at public libraries, and 37% involved school libraries. The remaining challenges of 2025 targeted school curriculums and higher education.

Librarian Sabrina Jesram arranges a display of books during Banned Books Week at a public library branch in New York City on Sept. 23, 2022.

The ALA defines a book “ban” as the removal of materials, including books, from a library. A “challenge,” in this organization’s definition, is an attempt to have a library resource removed, or access to it restricted.

The ALA is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to American libraries and librarians.

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Parents Against Bad Books co-founder Carolyn Harrison (center) talks with people last month outside the public library in Idaho Falls, Idaho, about what she considers obscene books on the shelves.

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Promo image with Phil Pritchard, Alzo Slade, and Peter Sagal

Bruce Bennett, Arnold Turner, NPR/Getty Images, NPR

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Bruce Bennett, Arnold Turner, NPR/Getty Images, NPR

This week, Phil Pritchard, NHL’s Keeper of the Stanley Cup, joins us to about taking the cup jet-skiing and panelists Alonzo Bodden, Adam Burke, and Dulcé Sloan beef with the Pope and get misdiagnosed.