Havana and Matanzas, Cuba, CA. 1957: Batá, Bembé, and Palo Songs

These recordings, made just prior to Fidel Castro's rise to power, reflect Afro-Cuban musical and spiritual life in Havana and around the sugarcane mills of Matanzas. Lydia Cabrera and Josefina Tarafa captured a fascinating snapshot of African slave-descendant communities performing their religious songs and ceremonies. In the Cuban countryside, Yoruba, Dahomean, and Kongo-Angolan religions had been faithfully preserved, and linguistic, symbolic, and musical elements were blended to produce new religious expressions. These recordings are a soundtrack to Cabrera's writings on Afro-Cuban religions. 32-page booklet with extensive notes and photos. 69 minutes

Estas grabaciones, hechas un poco antes de que Fidel Castro subiera al poder, reflejan la vida musical y espiritual en La Habana y en los alrededores de los trapiches de Matanzas. Lydia Cabrera y Josefina Tarafa capturaron retratos de las comunidades africanas descendientes de esclavos presentando sus cantos y ceremonias religiosas. En el campo cubano, las religiones Yoruba, Dahomé, y Kongo-Angola han sido fielmente conservadas y los elementos lingüísticos, simbólicos y musicales han sido mezclados para producir nuevas expresiones religiosas. Estas grabaciones acompañan los escritos de Cabrera sobre religiones afro-cubanas. Folleto de 32 paginas, notas extensivas, fotos, 69 minutos.

Track Listing

101	Tuí-Tuí for Shangó	Miguel Santa Cruz, Gustavo Díaz, and Juan González	01:41
102	Idé werewere ni'ta Oshún idé werewere (Song for Oshún)	Cándido Martínez or Antonio Alberiche, song leaders (akpwon), chorus (ankori), and batá trio led by Miguel Santa Cruz and Juan González	03:10
103	Okú ó Sholá Kinibá ó (Praise Song or Orikí for Aganjú)	Cándido Martínez or Antonio Alberiche, song leaders (akpwon), chorus (ankori), and batá trio led by Miguel Santa Cruz and Juan González	01:48
104	Babá Fururú oloré ré ó (Song for Obatalá)	Cándido Martínez or Antonio Alberiche, song leaders (akpwon), chorus (ankori), and batá trio led by Miguel Santa Cruz and Juan González	03:38
105	Kurukuru bede / Osaín adádará mádá ó (Song for Osain)	Cándido Martínez or Antonio Alberiche, song leaders (akpwon), chorus (ankori), and batá trio led by Miguel Santa Cruz and Juan González	01:30
106	Mojuba Olodumare	Domingo Hernández	01:30
107	Agó agó 'lona mojuba / Ibarabo agó mojuba (Songs for Eshú)	Alberto Yenkins and group	04:22
108	Oyá o owó kodé Oyá bé wá ló (Song for Oyá)	Alberto Yenkins and group	03:52
109	Obé ré obé Ayanakú Naná lewá (Arará Song for Naná Burukú)	Alberto Yenkins and group	01:46
110	Ibeji otá esé aremú 'beji otá esé (Song for the Divine Twins)	Alberto Yenkins and group	03:16
111	Kiri nya kiri nya agó / Eshu o Elegbara e (Song for Eleguá)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	02:37
112	Kolelé kolé ó iyá ó wó miyá kolelé (Song for Ogún)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	03:24
113	Babá Fururú oloré ré ó (Obatalá)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	05:04
114	Moforibale oba [k]oso / Moforibale fú'[n] Shangó (Song for Shangó)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	04:45
115	Kayobá Oba ó omó lowó Oba lere mí / Oba elekó ayá osí (Song for Obá)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	04:15
116	Awoyó, Yemayá ó omo du kwe [modup{u}é ó] lowó mi (Song for Yemayá)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	05:16
117	Iyámí ilé oro [odo] (Praise Song or Orikí for Oshún)	Marcus Portillo Domínguez and group	03:29
118	Okonilé ré rá é okó mi lo é milé bewá é	Fernando Hernandez and Group	02:01
119	Omodé t'orisa de ké awaó omodé funmi rawaó	Fernando Hernandez and Group	01:39
120	É bé oró, be mode loró	Fernando Hernandez and Group	02:01
121	Ndudu dale vuelta al ingenio (The Spirit Is Circling the Sugar Mill)	Silvino Baró, Martín Catalá, Sergio Rodríguez, and Rodolfo Viart	04:39
122	Vola volando nsaura (The Turkey Vulture Is Flying Around)	Silvino Baró, Martín Catalá, Sergio Rodríguez, and Rodolfo Viart	04:27
123	Shanigó	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	01:37
124	Oyayá obé	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	01:17
125	Obá o china	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	01:11
126	Marengue	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	00:44
127	Umbé	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	01:16
128	Vamo' tuñe tuñe tuñe a casa mangoya	Florinda Pastor, Agustín Diago, and chorus	00:51