Sobre El Río (Passage) by Mirjam Wirz

Sobre El Río (Passage) documents a photographic and musical journey tracing the origins of cumbia music along the lower Magdalena River in Colombia. This river, a lifeline for the region, is not only the birthplace of cumbia but also its early distribution route. Emerging in the colonial era, cumbia was initially a prohibited ritual dance, representing the interaction between indigenous and African populations. Musically, it blends African rhythms, indigenous instruments, and Spanish lyrics, making it a rich cultural fusion.

As cumbia spread throughout Latin America from the 1950s onwards, it adapted to local influences, growing into a diverse genre. The Magdalena River, emblematic of rivers as cultural conduits, symbolizes the fluidity of water cultures that absorb various influences, evident in both the music and the people.

This publication weaves together striking photographs, recordings of conversations with cumbia musicians, and narratives of the journey itself, offering a multifaceted exploration of this dynamic, ever-evolving musical tradition.