The Warrior Women of Afro-Peruvian Music

Working this time in Lima, Peru, this album from the Just Play project – accompanied by a webisode for each track – points a spotlight at both the musical heritage of black female artists in Peru and the realities of their marginalisation. Música criolla, a vibrant blend of West African, Spanish and Andean culture, has long been ignored in the Peruvian music scene, and being a female musician in Peru comes with its own set of challenges and controversies.

Despite these barriers, the music of the ‘warrior women’ is, as the name suggests, strong and resilient. From the dulcet expression of ‘Si Es Que Me Quiere’, almost fado- or morna-like in style, to the dynamic chorale and rhythms delivered in ‘Tinkalamina’, the album is filled with rich vocals and inventive percussion, including cajón, cajita (church collection box) and quijada (donkey jaw bone). There is a defiance and assuredness to the music that resonates throughout.

For a musical community that has for so long been denied its visibility, this album is a credit to the traditions, musicianship and creativity of these women, and will hopefully help to cement Afro-Peruvian culture firmly into the Peruvian musical landscape.