One night in 2002, a friend gave Jorge Drexler the chorus to a song and challenged him to write the rest of it using a complex, poetic form known as the "Décima." In this fascinating talk, Drexler examines the blended nature of identity, weaving together the history of the Décima with his own quest to write one. He closes the talk with a performance of the resulting song, "La Milonga del Moro Judío." (In Spanish with English subtitles)

Jorge Drexler: Poetry, music and identity

Poetry, music and identity

Décimas, a poetic form from 1591 Spain, intricately ties to songwriting, spotlighting the complexity of cultural identity.

Exploring the milonga's African, Persian, and Balkan roots reveals music as a mosaic of global influences, defying pure origins.

"La Milonga del Moro Judío" embodies the interwoven identities of a Jewish Moor among Christians, questioning the notion of 'pure' cultures.