If you can find them when they play “tonderos”, which are melancholy afro peruvian songs, they show their true depth and the blend of el criollo and el afro.

Also a bit different but equally great music are the “yaravi” songs from Ayacucho (central Peru) especially by the master of the Ayacuchano guitar Raul Garcia Zarate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ivom2ZnQlQ

El festival de arte negro de Cañete has been on my to do list for years now,

http://caneteartenegro.blogspot.com/2007/08/por-qu-un-festival-de-arte-negro-en-el.html

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_de_Arte_Negro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhBm_FA9f2I

last time I was in Perú I missed it cos I was in the jungle drinking tree-barks, I told myself it wouldn’t happen next time..

Well “criollismo” was a real big culture in the first half of the XX century and it was not only music, it is only food, dance and a special way of life in the coast, mostly in Lima. It have a big influence of flamenco and also waltz, that´s why the name “vals criollo” and of course african music. Criollo músic raised in the lower class towns in Barrios Altos (in Lima Downtown) some people said that the sons of the servants use to watch how the spanish patrons use to play in their parties and they try to emulate bringing a different feeling because the servants use to be, black people, and mountain people from different parts of Peru.

One of the most nice instruments that afroperuvian create was the “cajon peruano”, you can see that the Flamenco start to use it after they discover this amazing instrument in Peru the black community in Peru is still big at the south in Lima (El Carmen - Chincha). The super master!! Caitro Soto bring it to Paco de Lucia…. this is a nice song and a incredible performance from him (if the link doesn´t work just cut and paste)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hSZWG6WCEU

Well– this parties use to be 1 week long so you can imagine that they have a lot of songs singing about almost everything, a lot of improvisation from that group is probably the Sambo Cavero and the guitar innovator Oscar Aviles the most incredible duo that show that mix of cultures afro and peruvian indian. This lyrics are amazing, sorry guys if you know spanish you can understand this romantic song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXSXy2VFDo&NR=1

Well there is a lot of afroperuvian music around if you can search but this album of Chocolate Algendones (super cajon player) you can buy it somewhere

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rhythms-Peru-Reviving-Heritage/dp/0819568147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1202401840&sr=8-1

i don´t know what the hell is so expensive (maybe is out of print) but if you send me an e mail i can send you a copy is really a masterpiece

ok.. have fun — and learn spanish!!–jaja