Just as Peru is more than Machu Picchu, Peruvian music is more than panpipes. Spanish colonization introduced Western strings, while the slave trade brought African drums, and an entirely distinct sound as rhythms and melodies mixed with Indigenous traditions. Celebratory songs are a centerpiece of every community festival—of which there are many—accompanied by lively group dances.

Celebrating the 2015 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this playlist includes songs representing the dance traditions, themes, and regions featured in the Perú: Pachamama program.