Here is another rumba event in NYC today. There will be a rumba for the last hour, from 5 to 6. This will be a monthly event. This is not a religious tambor, although it is oriented toward some of the AfroCuban religious mythology, focusing on a different Yoruba orisha each month. A good balance for the Christian, Jewish, Moslem and other religious mythologies that are dominant in North American culture.
New Year Drumming
Celebrating the New Year and with the best wishes from the afro Latin Community will be held Tambo- Afro-Caribbean Drum, Class & Social- on January 9th of 2011. The event will be honoring Elegba, crossroads and luck deity of different Yoruba cults in the African Diaspora. Elegba, as Mercury or Hermes, is the messenger of the gods. He holds the power to make things happen - good or bad. He is propitiated to assure that all wishes and endeavors will encounter positive influence or development.
Tambo -Afro-Caribbean Drum Dance & Social- is an educational project brought by Metamovements and Areytos Performance Works for the sharing and celebration of Afro-diasporic traditions. In every occasion Tambo opens with a full immersion class of dance, singing and musicality, in the topic of the day, on January 9th it will be Elegba, follows by a social drumming and rumba.
Tambo happens the second Sunday’s of every month, from 2-6 PM at the Harlem Dance Foundation, located at 144 W. 121st Street between 7th and Lenox Avenues. Upcoming events will be held on February 13th, honoring Oshun; March 13th, honoring Oshosi and April 10th , celebrating Yemaya. Ticket prices are $25 (social and class) and $15 (social). For information and registration, contact: Sita Frederick, 646-418-3186
sitamoves@gmail.com ; Yesenia F. Selier, 201-952-5508
oriselier@gmail.com.
Press Release
Contact Info:
Sita Frederick , Artistic Director, Areytos Performance Works
sitamoves@gmail.com /646-418-3186
Yesenia F. Selier, Co-Producer
oriselier@gmail.com/ 201-952-5508
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About Elegba, also known as Eshu, Elegua, Elegbara.
Elegua opens and closes the road or way for us in life. He stands in the crossroads and 4 corners. No ceremony is started without paying tribute to him first. He takes many forms and has many names. He is considered a trickster and can be a difficult teacher when there is a lesson needed to be learned. So he always has to be pampered and treated with reverence to avoid hassles created on his behalf. Anytime there is a sacrifice or ceremony he has to be given something first. He is the appropriator of ceremonies. Without Elegua being acknowledged first chances are the outcome desired in a ceremony will not come to fruition.
Eshu is central in African diasporic faiths like the different Orishas Cults : Santeria, Ifismo, Candomble, Vodou, and many others. It is often identified with Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Michael [1] or Santo Niño de Atocha, depending on the situation or location. He has a wide range of responsibilities: the protector of travelers, deity of roads, particularly crossroads, the deity with the power over fortune and misfortune, and the personification of death.
Eshu is a spirit of Chaos and Trickery, and plays frequently by leading mortals to temptation and possible tribulation in the hopes that the experience will lead ultimately to their maturation. In the Yoruba pantheon, Elegba is a deity, the divine messenger of Olodumare. Elegba is a guardian, protector and communicator. Through divination, he guides the fate of man. In West Africa and all through the Diaspora he is revered. The Fon call him Legba. He is called Èsú (eshu), Èlegba
The name Elegbara, comprised the word "ele" means messenger and "Agbara" that means power or authority. Eshu is defines as messenger and holder of Olodumare's àsé (power and authority). Omo orisha throughout the Diaspora recognize Eshu Elegbara as a deity that holds the power to make things happen* - good or bad. For this reason he is propitiated to assure that all communication or action will not encounter negative influence or obstruction.
As trickster, Eshu is associated with disorder and destiny in the Yoruba pantheon. As "orisa orita" or "esu orita", orisha of the crossroad or the corners, Elegba represents the transitional or center point of the crossroad where one must make a decision. In this position, Elegba represents all the bewilderment and confusion one faces when attempting to make the proper choice. Once the choice is made, he is involved in the consequences and through his own devices guides us towards and along our proper path.
His ambivalence to orisa and man makes Elegba a complex, neutral force. For those who live in accordance to social and religious law, he is a great benefactor and guardian. Those who choose to live contrary" will meet him on their path as the "law enforcer" or "divine policeman".