Folk music in Cuban music is influenced by the fusion of black and Spanish music. The Cuban rumba, composed of rhythms, songs, dances, and mime, is one of our most prestigious folk and popular musical expressions, and it spreads to other nations. Its main performers were free black people and their descendants, belonging to different African ethnic groups such as the Lucumí, Ganga, Arará, and perhaps the most significant of all: the Gangá-Bantú. There are three main variants of the rumba complex: Yambú, Colombia, and Guaguancó.

During this period, numerous groups emerged that performed this variant of Cuban music, with great acclaim both nationally and internationally. The group Clave y Guaguancó had its origins in the 1940s, specifically in 1945.

In 1996, with a new format and a host of highly talented newcomers, Clave y Guaguancó released the CD titled “Déjala en la Puntita.” This work sets them apart from their predecessors, as well as from many other similar groups in Cuba, thanks to its mix of rhythms and the use of harmonies borrowed from other genres and cultures, all with the express goal of enriching the group’s sound.

The Yoruba Andabo folklore troupe blends Afro-Cuban music and dance in its performances. Its origins lie in a group of young workers from the Port of Havana, which joined in 1961 to liven up union meetings and celebrations. This group was called Guaguancó Marítimo Portuario and developed its art through a strong amateur movement. In 1985, they began their professional careers under the pseudonym Yoruba Andabo.

It is made up of more than a dozen artists, including singers, percussionists, and dancers. The group’s fundamental purpose is to promote and disseminate the purest and most indigenous rhythms of Cuba’s easternmost region, as well as musical expressions from other regions of Cuba.

Yoruba Andabo brings to the stage diverse musical genres that shape the African roots of Cuban culture, including the Congo, Yoruba, Abakuá, and Rumba complex cycles, with their traditional rhythms, especially Yambú, Guaguancó, and Columbia. They also work with the fusion of other musical genres, creating contemporary voices and sounds through harmonious choruses layered with unique choreographies.

The Vocal Group Baobab was established in 1994, and its current director is José Ramón Rodríguez García.

They are one of the most popular folklore groups on the island. Their repertoire is notable for its innovative choral interpretation of Afro-Cuban songs, blending innovative vocal arrangements with traditional language. They also blend contemporary trends such as rap and hip-hop with Afro-Cuban songs and rumba. Their performances are characterized by improvisation in their dance, percussion, and vocals.

Ensila Mundo is a Cuban folk music and dance group founded on May 26, 1996, by Francisco Toscano Hernández. The group has a unique style of bringing rumba to life. Through this ensemble, they revive old rhythms such as bolero, changüí, cha-cha-chá, son, and mambo, in a rumba-like setting, and blend these Cuban genres in a unique way to give their rumba a distinct flavor.

After beginning to work on small neighborhood activities, the need arose to create a group that would not only promote the music and dances they were already performing, but also revive our traditional music, attracting a wider audience. They also supported the Cubarrumba music and dance project, made up of children between the ages of five and ten.