Murga

Types of murga

Argentine murga, also called murga porteña, is performed almost exclusively in Buenos Aires. It draws considerable influence from candombe and other African dances and music. Compared to Uruguayan murga, the Argentine form places more emphasis on dance and instrumentals than on lyrics. Performances occur in parades known as corsos, which take place across Buenos Aires neighbourhoods throughout the year but are recurrent during the February carnival season.

Some groups include jugglers, stilts, flagbearers, and other visually stimulating elements. The song "El Matador" by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs incorporates a whistle, a common element in Argentine murga. This style was referenced in the song "La Murga de Panamá" by Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón. Uruguayan murga is typically performed in Montevideo, with groups of up to 17 performers, usually men.

Groups compete in an official competition. Lyrical content comments on events in Uruguay or elsewhere, and during the 1970s dictatorship, some groups became known for left-wing tendencies and subversive commentary.