Afro Bantu from Pinar del Rio, Cuba

Afro Bantu
Afro Bantu

Photo Feature by Elio Delgado Valdes

HAVANA TIMES – The Afro Bantu troupe are descendants of the Congos and preserve their ancestral traditions, they playing the three Yuka drums: cachimbo, caja, y mula.

This ethnic group live in the province of Pinar del Rio, in the hills of the municipality of Luis Lazo, where their ancestors lived as runaway slaves. They maintain the presence of instrumental ensembles, the Yuka, Makuta and kinfuiti and with a repertoire of songs related to their distinctive religious practice.

They are almost extinct, playing for religious events and holidays like the recent Wemilere festival (dedicated to the Orishas) where they show their African traditions that have survived with descendants.  

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