Ethnomusicologist and event producer Lani Milstein joins Rebecca to talk about Santiago de Cuba's quintessential musical practice: conga, an Afro-Cuban percussion and song genre linked to the city's famed Carnival celebrations. It involves mass participation by people parading along with the mobile percussion ensemble and continues to be a major symbol of santiaguero identity.
Songs played:
Abre, Conga de Los Hoyos
Va a llover, Conga de San Agustín
Añoranza por la conga, Sur Caribe
La mujer del pelotero, Baby Lores, Insurrecto & Clan 537
Desi Arnaz performing "Babalu" - at around 0:50, he starts dancing the side-to-side conga step commonly seen in comparsa parades
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAV3bOJaQuY
Sur Caribe video for "Añoranza por la conga" - you'll see footage of people arollando with the conga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6Vjr0i9sw
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Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions