Title: 6 Reasons Cali, Colombia is the Salsa Capital of the World
Headings: 6 Reasons Cali, Colombia is the Salsa Capital of the World
6 Reasons Cali, Colombia is the Salsa Capital of the World
They dance salsa better than anyone else
In Cali, time stands still
The city was introduced to Cuban rhythms
Colombia’s dubious past made way for a salsa future
Local discotecas are dedicated to its rhythms
Salsa festivals take place often

Content: Many of these local shops and bars are like going back in time as there are collector items all over the walls; it’s like stepping into a music time capsule. The city was introduced to Cuban rhythms
In the 1940s, music from Cuba began to arrive in Colombia through radio stations in Havana. In the 1950s Mexican musicals were shown daily on TV and featured Cuban swing bands and records from Argentina, Panama and Cuba. These two everyday influences started to make salsa more popular within communities who would listen to the radio habitually. In the ’50s and ’60s, small bars and clubs started to appear in the city and surrounding areas. Dancing and pre-salsa music was already popular within the city, and paved the way for salsa. Salsa became popular among many who saw it as an opportunity to express themselves in a way they never could before. Local Cali Disotecas | © Mariaceita / Flickr
Colombia’s dubious past made way for a salsa future
Everyone knows Colombia’s history with cartels and narcotics, but while these dubious activities are part of the country’s history, they also made salsa popular. In the ’70s and ’80s the influx of money to the city allowed for a large number of bars and clubs to be created.