Peru Negro

A wooden crate, a tithing box, and a donkey jaw. Not your typical musical instruments. But if it weren’t for a ban on drums placed on slaves by Spanish colonizers, Afro-Peruvian music wouldn’t have developed its distinctive sound. The cajón—evolved from farm crates used to collect fruit—is a wooden box straddled by its player who bends down to beat the box by hand. The cajita is a small, lidded box used for collections in Catholic churches. One hand claps the lid open and closed while the other beats the side of the box with a stick. And there is no mistaking the sound of the quijada de burro. The side of this dried-out donkey jawbone is beaten with the player’s palm, which resonates the tuning-fork shape causing all the loosened teeth to vibrate

This percussive backbone is joined by melodic guitar and passionate singing to form the heart of Afro-Peruvian music—a genre that was coalesced by the legendary ensemble Peru Negro.



It is widely accepted that during the international black pride movements, this ensemble—founded by Ronaldo Campos de la Colina to preserve Peru’s African heritage 30 years ago—became the national standard other bands emulated. And they haven’t let up yet. Peru Negro’s first internationally-available recording, Sangre de un Don, was released by Times Square Records in the US in Spring 2001.



Initially Peru Negro comprised 12 family members. Now more than 30 people are involved and the Lima-based music and dance ensemble runs their own school and junior troupe, Peru Negrito. Peru Negro has performed all over the world and has been appointed as “Ambassadors of Peruvian Culture” by the government. Their album, whose title means “Heritage of a Gentleman,” is dedicated to founding member Ronaldo Campos de la Colina, who passed away in 2001. Ronaldo’s son Ronny Campos wrote most of the songs on the new CD and leads the ensemble into the new millennium.