CULTURE
Spotlight on One of the Gatekeepers of the Puerto Rican Bomba Tradition
Proudly connecting with our Afro-Boricua roots
Escuchar el tambor es sentir la esencia de lo que somos. Como puertorriqueñes, es parte de nuestra herencia
~ Autor
Located in the northeast region of Borikén (colonizer name: Puerto Rico), Loíza has for decades captivated visitors. Affectionately labeled La Capital de la Tradición (the Capital of Tradition), this historic coastal town is widely known for mouth-watering seafood, seemingly endless shorelines, and its spectacular annual week-long festival honoring Santiago Apóstol (St. James).
And while many tourists trek outside of Old San Juan to experience the abundantly colorful sights and sounds this pueblo offers, they’re only recently starting to see what loiceños (local residents) have understood for generations: Loíza’s undisputed role as one of the meccas of our rich bomba music genre.
It is here, at the intersection of music and history where we find one of the pueblo’s most celebrated icons: Bomba Dancer and Educator, Raquel Ayala.
A Peek at La Bomba Puertorriqueña
To understand a people and their culture, one must delve into their music. For us as…
