“Akundún”, the secrets of the “black rhyme of Peru”: What does it mean, what is its relationship with “El condor pasa” and more

Early 1992. In times when Afro-Peruvian music was segmented and marginalized in radio stations, “Akundún”Broke barriers. It set a precedent in the music scene of our country, demonstrating that traditional music of international significance could be made at a time when pop was in fashion. “It was marginal, but it enters the mainstream. That had never happened ”, refers proudly, its creator, Miki González.

“Akundún”Is part of the fourth studio album and the most successful of the singer-songwriter born in Spain, in 1952, with the name of Juan Manuel González. The topic arose from an interest of the musician to tell the story of how the black population came to Peru during the Colony, and of the marvel of rhythms that they brought.

“In ’91, a friend of mine, producer Ricardo Ghibellini, told me: ‘Why don’t you do a Creole rap?’ Normally, I don’t listen to people, but I thought it was a good idea to do so. At that time El General was in fashion. I decided to do a ‘rapped’ song with Afro-Peruvian rhythm, but with dancehall reggae – which is now reggaeton – music that I had experience with. It occurred to me to mix reggae with honeycomb”Remembers Miki.

“And to continue with the line of controversy, I grabbed the tenth of Nicomedes Santa Cruz: ‘My grandmother came from Africa, dressed in snails, the Spaniards brought her, in a caravel … Black rhythms from Peru’. But when I felt that I was getting complicated I decided to do something of my own and mention the Portuguese ships based on the Treaty of Tordesillas, a trade treaty of that time”, Clarifies the singer-songwriter.

. That is why Robles’s name is cited in the album’s credits.

“”, Highlights the musician, who used only the exact bars, to avoid paying royalties.

As a result of the economic crisis in Peru in those years, Miki recorded “Akundún”In his own studio, on a small 8-track console. But given the success of the album and after signing an international contract with Polygram, the musician evaluated the possibility of re-recording it.

“We were going to record again, but the president of Polygram, in Miami, told us not to do it because that magic that we achieve on eight channels would be lost. It was actually a compliment to my work as a producer and sound engineer.”, He reflects, and then recalls an anecdote in relation to that topic.

“After a presentation of Maná in Peru, we went together to a disco, and in the middle of the meeting ‘Akundún’ sounds, then they play a song by them. That’s when I realized that mine sounded skinny and malnourished”, Says the national artist.

Name

Initially, the musical success of Miki González was called “Adundun”, An onomatopoeic version inspired by the rhythm of the bass. It was replaced by ‘Akundún‘, after the musician heard that word from Don Amador Ballumbrosio.

”, Says the singer-songwriter.

The video clip

The video clip was recorded at Lake Titica and Chullpas de Sillustani in Puno, El Carmen and Guayabo in Ica, among other beautiful places in Peru. Four Ballumbrosio brothers participated: Miguel, José and the twins César ‘Pudy’ and Roberto. The latter, at that time was eight years old. The first two were Miki González dancers and created the choreography, inspired by Vanilla Ice.

“It also occurred to me to call older women friends from El Guayabo, instead of putting girls in bikinis, because I wanted to avoid sexism, and in the lyrics of my song it says, ‘I don’t bring sex, I don’t bring violence.’ And everyone was paid, no one participated for free”, Miki remarks, after noting that Aunt Mariquita, one of the women who appears dancing in her musical production, is currently 95 years old and continues to enjoy her emblematic song.

“Akundún”It was a resounding success in Peru, however abroad it did not achieve the popularity that Miki expected, although in Spain it became the Topic of the Summer.