Rumba is a secular genre of
Cuban music involving dance, percussion, and song. It originated in the northern regions of Cuba, mainly in urban
Havana and
Matanzas, during the late 19th century. It is based on African music and dance traditions, namely
Abakuá and
yuka, as well as the Spanish-based
coros de clave. According to
Argeliers León, rumba is one of the major "genre complexes" of Cuban music, and the term
rumba complex is now commonly used by musicologists. This complex encompasses the three traditional forms of rumba (yambú,
guaguancó and columbia), as well as their contemporary derivatives and other minor styles.