Guitar Flamenca and Rhumba: Gimagua

A double header of Gimagua's music


Gimagua playing


Interview with Gimagua

Artist: Gimagua
Medium: Acoustic guitar
Location: Times Square station by the S train

Not that twins have to be the same, but Guillermo and Gabriel share a lot. As young boys both dreamed of having a career in music and of having a group together. What’s more, both fell in love with the same music – Flamenco and Rhumba. The brothers both took up the guitar at the age of 10 and, in 1986, left their home in Cartagena, Columbia to pursue music and a change of scenery in New York City.

Gimagua, which means twins in a Cuban slang derived from an African dialect, is still at it. Guillermo and Gabriel auditioned to be part of the MTA’s Music Under New York program and landed a spot. They say that the subway is an excellent place to promote themselves, generate business, and land gigs. The duo plays parties, weddings and other events. Guillermo also adds he enjoys playing in public (except when it’s too hot or too cold). “I like people, people like us, we get along well.”

Gabriel and Guillermo write their own music and both agree on their inspiration. When queried separately Guillermo said, with a grin, his inspiration included “memories of my land, women, sex.” Gabriel, a bit more modest said “what inspires us is our homeland.”

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