Like most of its neighbors, Bolivia was long dominated by
Spain and its attendant culture. Even after independence, Bolivian music was largely based on European forms. In 1952, a revolution established
nationalistic reforms which included cultural and political awareness of the
Aymara and
Quechua natives. Intellectuals in the country began wearing ponchos and otherwise associating themselves with native cultures, and the new government promoted native folklore by, among other methods, establishing a
folklore department in the
Bolivian Ministry of Education. Awareness of native music, spirituality and art continued into the 1960s. In 1965,
Edgar 'Yayo' Jofré formed a quartet called
Los Jairas in
La Paz. With Bolivian folk music gaining popularity throughout the country,
Jofré, along with
Alfredo Dominguez,
Ernesto Cavour Julio Godoy, and
Gilbert Favre used traditional music in modified forms to appeal to urban-dwellers and Europeans. Later groups like
Wara,
Khanata, Paja Brava (1977–2000),
Savia Andina, and especially
Los Kjarkas and
Kalamarka helped further refine this fusion. Following a close but different path, groups and singers like
Luzmila Carpio,
Ruphay, and
Grupo Aymara started touring abroad and gained international praise for their compositions, tunes that have brought indigenous Bolivian culture and history to the world's attention. Los K'jarkas consists of 3 brothers, the Hermosas, who play primarily
Huayño or, more rarely,
sayas. These are both
dance music influenced both by native forms as well as
African music imported to Bolivia with
slavery. Los K'jarkas are known internationally for their
Caporales classic "Llorando se fue", which was adopted and transformed to the popular beginning of the
lambada dance craze of the 1980s, along with
forró and
carimbo in northern
Brazil. The song was popularized by a French group, resulting in a successful
lawsuit from the Hermosa brothers. Kalamarka was founded in 1984 by Hugo Gutierrez and Rodolfo Choque. They fusion folk instruments such as Zampoña, Quena, Charango and Bombo with modern instruments, creating a beautiful Andean music. Their famous songs are 'Cuando Florezca el Chuño' and 'Ama, Ama, Amazonas'. In the 1980s, Chilean
nueva canción was imported to Bolivia and changed into
canto nuevo, which was popularized by performers like
Emma Junaro. Traditional Bolivian (and other South American) musical instruments include the
charango,
charangón,
ronroco,
hualaycho,
zampoña,
quena,
bombo,
huancara,
reco reco,
chiapya box,
pinquillo,
tarka,
toyos,
pututu, Andean saxophone, and
Chajchas, as well as
European musical instruments such as the
violin and
guitar. Most prominent Bolivian musical forms identified in its culture and origins are the
Kullawada,
Morenada,
Caporales, Llamerada,
Diablada,
Tonada (or, directly
Tinku),
Sikuri, Tarqueada, Taquirari,
Carnavalito,
Bailecito,
Huayño,
Lamento,
Afro-Bolivian Saya,
Tuntuna, Taki Taki, Waca Tocoris, Chovena, Sarao, Potolos,
Pujllay,
Danza Salay, Rueda Chapaca,
Chacarera, Escondido, Tonada,
Ch'unchu (dance),
Tobas and
Cueca which presents different variants in each Bolivian department. == References ==