SOY AFRICANO highlights the overlooked history and widespread influence of latin music in West and Central Africa.  The show celebrates the ways in which clave-based Cuban music and New York Salsa were embraced by Africans, and led to thriving “latin afro” scenes in countries like Senegal, Benin, Guinea, Angola and the Congo. Transportive, complex rhythms and lilting guitars – all West African trademarks – meld with familiar Latin sounds to bring you a spirited virtual performance exploring new territory in diasporic connections. “A boomerang of African traditions sent to the New World and transformed in the Latin Caribbean can now be heard returning ‘home’.”

The ensemble for this performance includes prominent West coast black and brown musicians such as Afrisa International’s Wawali, Congolese guitar legend Huit Kilos, and Chicano Batman’s Bardo Martinez. The goal of this project is to heal racial tensions between black and brown communities in Los Angeles, and uplift the shared beauty of these communities through music, joy, unity and the celebration of transcultural exchange and art-making.

This program is generously funded by Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation – Los Angeles (TRHT-LA)