La Peña Kicks Off the Berkeley World Music Festival!
The Kick Off party at La Peña features the cross-cultural exchange between Spain, Peru and Cuba, with an all-star cast of percussionists and musicologists:
Afro-Peruvian master percussionist Peta Robles leads multi-textured drumming of the Cajon. Accompanied by Afro-Peruvian music & dance educator Gabriela Shiroma.
Percussionists John Santos and Hector Lugo, along with special guests will give context to African-diaspora expressions in Cuba through congas, bongos and other percussive instruments.
La Mandanga (video above) headlines with passionate Spanish Rumba - dance music that fuses the elements of Afro-Peruvian Cajon and Afro-Cuban rhythms with flamenco music. The genre originated in the 19th century in Andalusia, southern Spain, where Cuban music first reached Spain through traveling Flamenco musicians. It was not until the 1970s that the great flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia incorporated the Afro-Peruvian cajon into Flamenco music – and it is now an integral part of both Flamenco and Rumba Flamenca (Spanish Rumba). Don't miss this awesome Kick Off Party June 9 at 8pm! This event is FREE! Donations of any size are encouraged to help support La Peña and the Berkeley World Music Festival!
