Diákara, a prominent Cuban group, was founded in 2000 under the direction of maestro Oscar Valdés. Their repertoire primarily includes jazz, based on Afro-Cuban touches, created by the excellent percussionist who is their director. The famous Havana jazz café La Zorra y El Cuervo (155 Calle 23, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana) and the UNEAC (17th Street between G and H Streets, Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana) serve as the group’s headquarters and are their most frequent venues.

In the early 1990s, they served for a long time as the backing group for the great Cuban poet and musician Silvio Rodríguez. Diákara combines the universal expression of jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms and is today one of the leading exponents of the genre in Cuba. After a while, the group incorporated Haruhiko Kono, an excellent Japanese percussionist who is now one of the main attractions at the group’s performances.

The group has worked with musicians such as Omara Portuondo, Bobby Carcassés, and Yasek Manzano, among other Cuban jazz talents. Diákara does not yet have a recording, but its director already has one in the works. Oscar Valdés states that the CD will be released with Bis Music and titled Arará Jazz. According to the maestro, several Cuban folk songs with Arará drums will be included on the album, giving it a new touch and style.