Where was tango born?

Where it comes from

Tango was born in the poor neighbourhoods of the port more than a hundred years ago, as the music of immigrants: Italians, Spaniards, Africans. By 1914 about half the people of Buenos Aires had been born abroad. UNESCO's listing says the same of both cities: the urban lower classes of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, European immigrants, descendants of African slaves and the criollos of the region, merged their customs into one identity, in music, dance and poetry.

The instrument is the bandoneón, a square accordion from Germany that gives tango its sad, breathing sound. The most famous singer is Carlos Gardel, who died in 1935 and, Argentines say, sings better every day. In 2009 UNESCO inscribed tango for Argentina and Uruguay together.

• Tango was born in the poor neighbourhoods of the port more than a hundred years ago, as the music of Italian, Spanish and African immigrants.
• Tango was developed by the urban lower classes of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, mixing European immigrants, descendants of African slaves and the criollos; it embraces music, dance and poetry.
• The bandoneón is a square accordion from Germany.
• Carlos Gardel is the most famous tango singer; he died in 1935.
• UNESCO inscribed tango on the Representative List in 2009 for Argentina and Uruguay.

El tango nace en los barrios pobres del puerto, hace más de cien años.

Tango was born in the poor neighbourhoods of the port, more than a hundred years ago.

Es música de inmigrantes: italianos, españoles, africanos.

It is the music of immigrants: Italians, Spaniards, Africans.

El instrumento del tango es el bandoneón.

The instrument of tango is the bandoneón.

Hoy el tango es Patrimonio de la Humanidad.

Today tango is a World Heritage tradition.