La Rumba me Llama: Celebración de Musica Afro-Cubana // Berkeley
Join us, SF Bay Area for La Rumba me Llama: Honrando los Antepasados — Celebración de Musica Afro-Cubana.
SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2025
5:30-9:30pm
La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley CA.
All ages welcome.
About show:
This year, we’re honoring the ancestors and past rumbero/a/xs who have lit the path!
Our amazing, all-star list of performers on June 1:
Andy Perez, Kai Lyons, Ahkeel Mestayer, Karla Rivera Lozada, Ernesto Mazar Kindelan, Jose Luis Elejarde Gonzalez, , Tobey Gaster, Emilio Davalos, Wilmer Hernandez Bonelly, DJ Leydis, Yeny Valdez, Erick Barberia, (Dancer) Pablo Dinamico and (Dancers) Susana Arenas and members of Arenas Dance Company, musical director & co-producer Einar Leliebre Nuñez, and emcee/co-producer Aimee Suzara.
Schedule:
5:30p Doors open; DJ Leydis on the turntables
6:30p Concert begins! Part 1, intermission & Part 2
8:30p Concert ends; Dance Social w/DJ Leydis on the turntables
9:30p End
A fuller description:
All within the context of the rumba, the first part of the evening will be spiritual and folkloric, showcasing the syncretism between African and European religions, blending Catholic chants with Afro-Cuban rhythms. The second part is traditional, danceable music, blending rumba with changüí (a form born in Guantanamo, in the rural communities populated by enslaved African people), and other styles of music.
The event and the space, which will have an altar with photos, will honor the “antepasados” or ancestors, especially the rumbero/a/xs and musicians who have illuminated the way.
Awarded the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA) Living Traditions grants, culture bearer Einar Leliebre Nuñez has selected top-notch musicians and dancers to perform. Following last year’s successful event, the show will bring together Cubans, Caribbeans, Latinos, and people from the African Diaspora, and other communities and supporters of culture from all walks of life.
This all-ages celebration, which includes a free class for children on may 31, 10a and a concert, social and DJ on June 1, 530-930pm, will be at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, an important community space that is dedicated to supporting Latino-Caribbean culture and where Einar teaches percussion classes. The class and concert will occur during the last day of May and first day of June, which is Caribbean Heritage Month.
