Which Afro-Cuban music genre, derived from African religious traditions, features call-and-response singing and percussion?

Which Afro-Cuban music genre, derived from African religious traditions, features call-and-response singing and percussion?

• A. Rumba
• B. Salsa
• C. Son
• D. Mambo

Answer: (A)

Rumba is the best fit because it grew out of Afro-Cuban communities with strong African religious and ritual roots, and its performances are built around interactive, call-and-response vocal patterns backed by percussion. In rumba, a lead singer or small group sings a line and a chorus replies in rhythm and rhythmically overlapping phrases, creating a communal, participatory feel that mirrors traditional African musical practices. The percussion section—congas, claves, and other hand drums—drives the tempo and texture, giving the music its unmistakable rhythmic pulse. While salsa, son, and mambo are all Cuban-influenced styles that incorporate percussion and singing, they are more community-dance and arrangement driven rather than centered on the religiously inflected call-and-response tradition that characterizes rumba.

Rumba is the best fit because it grew out of Afro-Cuban communities with strong African religious and ritual roots, and its performances are built around interactive, call-and-response vocal patterns backed by percussion. In rumba, a lead singer or small group sings a line and a chorus replies in rhythm and rhythmically overlapping phrases, creating a communal, participatory feel that mirrors traditional African musical practices. The percussion section—congas, claves, and other hand drums—drives the tempo and texture, giving the music its unmistakable rhythmic pulse. While salsa, son, and mambo are all Cuban-influenced styles that incorporate percussion and singing, they are more community-dance and arrangement driven rather than centered on the religiously inflected call-and-response tradition that characterizes rumba.