Culture of South America

Guyana and Suriname are exceptions, with three major religions: Christianity in general, Hinduism, and Islam.

In lowland South America, as well as the Andes, animism and shamanism are common, as noted among the Urarina of Peruvian Amazonia.

Some of the most famous genres include samba from Brazil, tango from Argentina & Uruguay, and cumbia from Colombia.

Beyond the rich tradition of indigenous art, the development of South American visual art owed much to the influence of Spanish, Portuguese and French Baroque painting, which in turn often followed the trends of the Italian Masters.

Peru is especially well known for its ethnic mix influences like African, American Indian, European, Chinese, Japanese, and others.