Photos: Afro-Peruvian artists bring mixed heritage to the stage

Last Friday, local and international artists from the De Cajón Project took over the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute with performances celebrating the fusion of African soul and Latin spirit.

The De Cajón Project paid tribute to their Afro-Peruvian mixed heritage through music, dance, storytelling and poetry at the “De Inga y Mandinga” event on Dec. 13th.

The word “Inga” refers to the Peruvian indigenous group the Incas, while “Mandinga” also referred to as “Mandinka” or “Mandingo” refers to the enslaved West African peoples who were brought to the Americas. De Cajón aims to educate Seattleites about Peruvians of African descent.

With the colorful dresses and the flavorful rhythm, this show brought the history of the Peruvian culture to life. Performers made full use of the “cajón” or the iconic traditional wooden drum.

Mónica Rojas, a doctor in anthropology as well as an artist, directed and produced this show with her passion to educate the cultural traditions of the African diaspora in Latin America. Follow future performances from the De Cajón Project here.

Dancers perform a traditional Peruvian number. (Photo by Aida Solomon)

Miguel Ballumbrosio, an international artist and music director, performs “Cajón Peruano” with local youth using traditional wooden drums or “cajons”. (Photo by Aida Solomon)

Dancers perform in “Azúcar de Caña.” (Photo by Aida Solomon)

Karim Koumbassa, a Guinean performer, dances in De Cajón Project. (Photo by Aida Solomon)

Aida Solomon

Aida is a former Seattle Globalist apprentice and a communications major at the University of Washington. Being Ethiopian-American she is passionate to change the negative image of Ethiopia seen in the media. She loves traveling, learning languages and photography.