Live Santeria/Lucumi Presentations of Iyawos and Sacred Bata Drums
Vamos al Tambor: Presentations in Matanzas, Cuba
DVD, 90 minutes, all regions
This DVD includes two separate Lucumi Santeria presentations, both of which were recorded live at the home of Alfredo Calvo, one of the most respected Santeros in Matanzas, Cuba.
"Three Changos" is the presentation of three new Santeria initiates (Iyawos) to the sacred bata drums, known as Aña.
It documents the traditional Matanzas style of presentation to the bata drums: the three "kings" dress in the Orisha Chango's luxurious garments and a complete sequence of praise songs is played and sung (as opposed to the cursory Havana style presentation in which only the initiate's crowning Orisha is played to).
Alfredo Calvo is apon (lead singer) and calls the Orishas down to Earth. He is accompanied by three of his finest bata drummers and members of the Santeria community of Matanzas.
"Aña" is the presentation of newly consecrated sacred bata drums to the community. Alfredo Calvo and his son Alberto are apons and Toribio García, a talented young bata drummer, plays Iya (the "mother" drum). In one of the most moving segments, Toribio plays drum-to-drum with the newly born Iya as he transfers the spirit of Aña.
The presentation of new Aña drums is a rare event in Cuba, no less in the US, as very few sets of sacred drums are consecrated anywhere.
Contents
| A Presentation of Three Changos (70 minutes) |
Includes a complete cycle of songs for the Orishas (more than 30 songs in total) as three new Iyawos are presented to the community and the sacred drums. |
|---|---|
| A Presentation of Aña (15 minutes) |
The newly consecrated bata drums are presented to the community as the drums that gave them birth play. Then the drummers switch places and the new drums play while the “parent” drums transfer the spirit of Aña to them. |