AFRICAN INFLUENCED MUSIC OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Cultural Fusion: African Slaves + Europeans + Native Indigenous = Fire!
The Transatlantic Slave Trade took African slaves largely to various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although those were indeed tragic times for our ancestors, the slaves found ways to resist through the transmission of their culture which blended with European and Native Indigenous cultures. A product of this cultural exchange was soul inspiring musical fusions giving rise to multiple diverse musical art forms, both secular and religious. These art forms have their own unique sounds but they have the similar cultural mixes foundationally.
Music allowed the people to feel more free as they lost themselves in the spicy rhythms and melodies. The people were also informed and inspired by the words of the songs which were often thinly veiled political satire. In other words, there was ultimately the victory of culture over adversity, which in my view requires recognition and celebration. I am truly inspired by all the musical art forms, but initially I am focused on popular folk music of the people such as Rumba (Cuba), Samba (Brazil), and Calypso (Trinidad and Tobago) to name a few.
The way I propose to recognize and celebrate is "boots on the ground" travel to the ancestral lands of these musical art forms. Ceremony will be performed to honor the ancestors of the lands and to promote ancestral healing during the travel. There will be the opportunity to connect with local drum masters, musicians, dancers, and educators of these art forms. There will also be the opportunity to lose yourself in in drumming, dancing, and singing with local musicians. Ultimately I am envisioning a Sacred Pilgrimage to these lands incorporating the best of Transformational and Regenerative Travel concepts. Below is a high level Concept Trip Design which I will continue to fine tune with the assistance of this community.
"Khenamu Travels" traveling drum circle Goes afro-Caribbean
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
First stop, Ile Ife, Nigeria. Birthplace of Yoruba civilization. One of the largest ethnic groups in Africa and a major contributor to the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The Middle Crossing ->
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
The infamous "Middle Passage" the transatlantic ocean crossing used to transport African slaves from Africa to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Brazil ->
Nigeria (or other African countries) ->
Brazil ->
Cultural Formula: Mixing African Slaves + Europeans + Native Indigenous = The People's music: Samba
Cuba ->
More to Come
Brazil ->
Cultural Formula: Mixing African Slaves + Europeans + Native Indigenous = The People's music: Rumba
Trinidad ->
More to Come
More to Come
Cultural Formula: Mixing African Slaves + Europeans + Native Indigenous = The People's music: Calypso
More to Come
More to Come
More to Come
Wherever the ancestors went we will follow...
An Ethnomusicological Pilgrimage
tattoos represent the passion - the music is fire
“Africa Is The Roots” --> “The Diaspora Bears The Fruit”.
I am a lifelong enthusiast for these art forms and a hand drummer who played in Community Drum Circles for many years. My tattoos display this passion expressed as a Latin Jazz Band and Afro-Cuban Dancers on my forearms, and on my hands the expressions "Africa Es La Raiz" and "La Diaspora Es La Fruita" (which roughly translated is meant to mean “Africa Is The Roots” and “The Diaspora Bears The Fruit”).
