Music and Time Annotation << Back African-american music of the new world. A general overview I.A. Kryazheva The article is devoted to the consideration of some questions concerning the formation, typology and artistic originality of Afro-American music in Latin America. This tradition, represented by a variety of genres and traditions of music making, is formed in the process of interaction of European (Iberian) and African substrates, in its own way anticipating the integration processes of modernity. The culture of Latin America provides several levels of interaction between these traditions, determined by the degree of presence of the African component and the peculiarities of their functioning. On the example of Afro-Cuban son and Rumba such key concepts as genre are characterized, features of oral musical professionalism, the fundamental role of concrete performing interpretation are defined. In order to identify the uniqueness of these traditions, the atmosphere and nature of their existence, that is, the socio-cultural context in which they are included, becomes important. We introduce such a necessary category as "manner of performance", implying both musical-rhythmic and intonational features, and more General factors relating to the way of national thinking. Keywords: Latin America, Afro-American music, genre, oral professionalism, Afro-Cuban Son, Rumba, interpretation, manner of performance, national identity. Contacts: E-mail: irinakryazheva@yandex.ru Pp. 19-23.