FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Multimedia presentation aims to create new music by exploring the fusion of Afro-Cuban song and dance by Irawo Osa with the Cuban folk and country music of Cortadito
Miami Beach, FL – February 11, 2025 – Prepare to be captivated by a mesmerizing synthesis of ancient traditions and modern music on Friday, February 28, 2025, 7 p.m., at the Wolfsonian – FIU (1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139). This new work produced by Grammy-nominated artist Jose Elias, features collaborations between Cuban Son band Cortadito, the Cuban rumba group Irawo Osa, poets Román Díaz and Adrian Castro, and Fulbright Scholar Dr. Ivor Miller. The performance delves into the heart of Cuban culture, exploring the African roots and customs that have shaped its vibrant soundscape.
Attendees will experience the electrifying combination of Afro-Cuban songs and rhythms with Son and Changüí music and dance, and immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Cuban folklore styles, including the Rumba, Palo, Carabalí-Abakuá, and Lukumí-Yoruba traditions. Listeners will be able to discern their impact on the development of popular Cuban music like Son and Timba.
“My goal with this presentation is to highlight the social club themes of belonging and community by showcasing this unique and genre-bending combination of Cuban music,” says Elias, the show’s producer. “Using a multimedia format will help give audiences a sense of the many facets that make up the tapestry of a social club, and take our program to new heights.”
Performances by Cortadito and Irawo Osa, which is composed of members of the Munequitos de Matanzas, will be melded with the virtual poetry of Díaz and the live poetic presentation of Castro. Dr. Miller will offer insights as he narrates and weaves a storyline that highlights the African roots of Cuban popular music and its global impact.
Dr. Miller is also a Wolfsonian – FIU Fellow in residence for February of 2025, when he will conductresearch on photographs of Cuban musicians gifted to The Wolfsonian’s library by collector Vicki Gold Levi.
The opportunity to witness the power of Cuban music and its enduring legacy at the Wolfsonian – FIU is free with an RSVP here. Sponsored by the City of Miami Beach, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Library of America.
This program is presented as part of Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home, a major public humanities initiative taking place across the nation in 2024 and 2025, directed by Library of America and funded with generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and Emerson Collective.
For more information, please visit AfroRootsFest.com.
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