Parang is a popular genre of folk music that originated in Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. It was introduced to Trinidad and Tobago by Venezuelan migrants who were primarily of Amerindian, Spanish, Mestizo, Pardo, and African heritage. These diverse cultural backgrounds are strongly reflected in the characteristics of the music itself.
The name Parang is derived from two Spanish words: "parranda," which translates to a spree, and "parar," which means to stop.