Proyecto Palo Monte

412 South Park View, Los Angeles, California 90057

Phone (213) 351-9501 E-mail: AfroCuba@aol.com

AFROCUBAN DRUMS, RITUALS & CULTURES

Workshops and Field Research in Matanzas, Cuba. Registration limited to 20 people.

From Sunday, June 20 to Saturday, June 26, 1999. Professor Israel Moliner Castañeda and Jorge L. Rodríguez.

PROYECTO PALO MONTE is an educational collaboration between non-governmental agencies: Sociedad Antropológica de la Isla de Cuba, Kairos Center, AfroCuban Research and Cultural Center of Western New Mexico University and Stage Of The Arts, Inc. of Los Angeles.

 December 3, 1872, Remigio Herrera (Addé Chinva) iniciate the first Cuban babalao: Blas Cárdenas, capatáz of the cabildo lucumí of Matanzas. We will visit the house of Addé grandson: the 92 years old Rolando Teruel Cartaya, the keeper of the centenarian fundamento Oni Ilú of Changó. Remigio Herrera was the one to introduced the Batá drums in Cuba.

Study of the Yoruba, Arará, Bantú and Carabalí drums.

• Introduction to the Yoruba/Nigeria drums. The Batá drums: gathering with Batá drum artisans and players as well as festivities and gathering with Batá ritual players. Study of other Yoruba drums including: the Bembé drums, the Iyessa, the Güiros or Agwebes. Batá master classes.
  • Ñongo
  • Chacha lokefú
  • Aluya
• Introduction to the ewe-fong or arará drums of Cuba.
• The Bantú Drums in Cuba. A visit to the house Congo Luanda in Jovellanos old town. Visit to the house Ganga Longowa in Perico. Introduction to the carabalí drums in Cuba: Conga drums and the Abakua sacred drums; visit to the temple Uriabón in Matanzas City and the Cabildo Santa Teresa. Gathering with the ritual group Olokum.

Registration: Register by mail or in person prior to Sunday, May 2, 1998. We need your name, passport number and a deposit of $300 USD (cash or checks only).fully refundable only if there is a trip cancellation on the part of Stage Of The Arts. Your deposit confirms your agreement with these terms and all information provided in this page. A payment of $515.00 should be received by Sunday, June 6, 1999.  

Total Fees $1, 350.00 USD

Course Fees Include: Round trip airfare to/from La Habana, Cuba/ Tijuana, Mexico (Aero Mexico). Six nights accommodation dormitory style at the Hotel Casa del Valle, located at the Yumurí valley (3km from the city of Matanzas or at the centrally located Kairos Christian Center for the Arts and Liturgy of the Iglesia Bautista de Matanzas (founded 1809) in historic downtown Matanzas, daily breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner, ground transportation, tuition and attendance at performances.

Visa and Travel Regulations to Cuba

You may be traveling to Cuba under a specific license from the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, as a person traveling in connection with clearly defined educational or religious activities. Departure from Tijuana, Mexico will be on Saturday, June 19, 1999 at 4:20 p.m. You are responsible for your own visa arrangements. For visa and travel arrangements call: Adventure Tours And Travel (626) 395-7111 located at 110 South Rosemead Blvd. Suite "A", Pasadena, California 91107 (ask for PROYECTO PALO MONTE).

Academic Course Credit Available

Course credit may be provided by Western New Mexico University. The course is Psychology 480 for individuals without an undergraduate degree or Psychology 580 for individuals who have completed either a B.A. or a B.S.. The title of the course is AfroCuban Thought and Behavior and will provide 3 units of college credit.