Pello El Afrokan Creator Cuban Mozambique

1960-01-01 · 1960

The Cuban Mozambique musical tradition (music & dance) was pioneered by the late great Pello el Afrokan and became a national and international hit and sensation by the mid 1960’s. A separate NY variant/style of the rhythm evolved and was popularized in the 70’s through the work of 10x Grammy-winning artist Eddie Palmieri as well as the legendary timbalero Many Oquendo and his group Conjunto Libre. The Cuban Mozambique is played with as many as 12 conga drums, two bass drums, three bells, a frying pan and also features as many as four trumpets and three trombones. I had the great fortune to meet Pello and his grandson Pellito el Afrokan during my travels to study drumming in Cuba and have maintained a working relationship with Pellito nearly 30 years later. - Chris Theberge

Genres: Mozambique