Baltimore Salsa Blog

AFRICA: THE ROOTS OF SALSA-Unbeknownst to most fans of this genre of music, salsa traces its roots to Africa. The enslaved from that continent brought with them their rich traditions. The authorities in the United States were anxious to acculturate the Africans to western society and culture. They were prohibited from preserving the drumming traditions. It was feared the Africans would communicate over distances by way of the drum. However Cuba did not impose these restrictions. The traditions flourished and seeped into traditional Cuban music creating a hybrid with an infectious rhythm. The presentation’s focus is on the Cuban influentials who trace their heritage to Africa. The decade-by-decade journey pays tribute to the Afro Latinos that created a new musical style. The blind composer and tres player, Afro Cuban Arsenio Rodriguez, Machito, Mario Bauzá, Beny More’ all from Cuba and Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera, Luigi Texidor and others from Puerto Rico are highlighted.  It also notes the tremendous influence of Harlem’s night clubs that featured big band jazz. The horn lines backed up by Cuban rhythm sections led to the hot new mambo sound that led to the Palladium Era. Cab Calloway, Chick Webb, Dizzy Gillespie and others employed Latino musicians as musical directors and band members.  The presentation comes full circle back to Africa with the contemporary salsa artists primarily from Senegal and Congo. This presentation forges stronger ties between members of the African American and Latino communities. The multi media presentation, punctuated with vintage film and music clips entertains while it educates. By Eileen Torres