Drums, rhythm and sabor: celebrating Afro-Latin music and dance in DC

Singer Vicky Leyva y Su Sabor Negro (Peru) preforming
Photo: Felicia Montgomery

The invigorating sounds of African drums pulsated from the Rankin Chapel at Howard University on November 21 as over 300 gathered to celebrate the “African Roots in Latin America and the Caribbean” concert. The MZO Center, a cultural and educational non-profit in DC, put on the event in partnership with several sponsors.

Event volnteers like Marcelo Grueso, Christina Lozano, Roxana Nova, Cristina Fandino, Ricardo Panuela and Edier Ossio (pictured below), were eager to share about the MZO Center and their involvment with the cause.

It took a little while for the audience to get over the bare skinned ‘dancers’ of the first performance and neon bright lights of the chapel. Candomblé Forever, a Uruguayan drumming and dancing group, braved as the first act for a crowd not sure if it was okay to dance in such a churchy setting and wrapping their minds around the group’s of very light to white Latinos at an Afro-Latino concert. Nonetheless, Candomblé held their own. Sensing element of surprise, event co-MC and MZO board member Roland Roebuck urged everyone not to focus too much on color because “the drum unites us al”  and introduced the next group. Raices de Boríquen, a community favorite, followed and represented the Bomba of Puerto Rico.

Vicky Leyva and Su Sabor Negro's presentation of the song ‘Toro Mata’ would make Celia Cruz proud. The Afro-Peruvian group definitely turned up the volume with their sultry and lively music.
Afro-Panamanian folklore group, Grufolpawa, kept the energy high with their energetic dance. By the time Afro-Cuban group Alafia the crowd was ready to get up and dance and did just that.

MZO's board member Rev. Whit Hutchinson and executive director Humberto Garcés (pictured above) work in collaboration with many community partners to run the Center. Garcés commented “that the event was a huge success” in raising awareness about African culture in Latin America. He reports that the purpose for the event wasn’t a fundraiser rather a friendraiser, and with such a turnout, MZO Center plans to host another. Not just an Afro-Latino concert, but a “festival.”

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