Mi Güacandao

ILU AYE Strikes Back On Three Kings Day!!

2011-12-06T18:29:00.005-05:00

ILU AYE Is Back In The Scene With A Three Kings Day Party At El Fogon Center For The Arts On January 6th 2012. As Always The Group Will Bring You A Musical Menu From The Islands Of Cuba, Puerto Rico, & Dominican Republic with Akpwon Osvaldo "Bembe" Lora, vocalist Norka Nadal, drummers Jonathan Troncoso, Niko Laboy, Danny Maldonado, Fidel Tavares, and Camilo Molina.

A night that will surely have you dancing and singing 'til you scream...... for more!!!

FIRST SET: 10pm SHARP!

Door: $15

El Fogon Center for the Arts
989 Home Street
(corner of Vyse St.)
Bronx, NY 10459
**2 or 5 train to Freeman St.**

ILU AYE (Literally, “The Drum of the World” in Yoruba) was founded in 2004 by a collective of individuals, to celebrate the connections between the peoples and cultures of the African Diaspora. Bringing together the next generation of Afro-Puerto Rican, -Dominican, and -Cuban percussionists and singers, ILU AYE is dedicated to preserving and promulagting the rich cultural legacy of Africa in the Americas and the Caribbean, through performance, educational workshops, and community-centered gatherings where the rhythms of the African Caribbean reign.

Last Bombazo Of The Year!

2009-12-14T13:37:00.001-05:00

Ancestors play a cardinal role in our everyday lives. When we fail to recall these sacred ties, we lose touch with the onrushing stream of consciousness that flows through memory from generation to generation. Honoring your ancestors is the first step in reclaiming your physical and psychic wellbeing and spiritual heritage.

Come get connected to your ancestors with the oldest Puerto Rican musical tradition - Bomba.

Saturday December 19th, 2009
10:00 pm
at
Camaradas el barrio
2241 First Avenue
NYC 10029
www.camaradaselbarrio.com
Norka1010@aol.com (for more info)

ILU AYE

2009-09-23T21:16:00.005-04:00

MONTHLY PERFORMANCE @ LA PREGUNTA ARTS CAFE
SEPT. 25TH 2009
10PM SHOWTIME

LA PREGUNTA ARTS CAFE
1528 Amsterdam Avenue
(bet. 135th & 136th)
NYC

www.myspace.com/iluayemusic

BAMBULA @ CAMARADAS el barrio 3.28.09

2009-03-23T14:19:00.004-04:00

CELEBRATING WOMEN'S MONTH AFRO PUERTO RICAN STYLE WITH

SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH '09

SHOWTIME 10PM

COVER $5

ILU AYE @ LA PREGUNTA ARTS CAFE 3.13.09

2009-03-10T13:15:00.004-04:00

We are proud to invite you to La Pregunta Arts Cafe, New York's premier cultural social club. Come experience the talent that spills from every corner of the world and into this Cafe, from painters to comedians to musicians to Capoeiristas to poets. Check out the website www.lapregunta.net, join our myspace and facebook groups and just help us get the word out. Te esperamos!

Ilu Aye "The Drum Of The World" Plays At LA PREGUNTA ARTS CAFE
Friday March 13th @ 10pm
1528 Amsterdam Ave (Between 135 & 136 Street)
new york, New York 10030
Cost: $10.00 & $7.00 Students with I.D.

Celebrando La Zafra En Camaradas El Barrio

2009-02-25T13:08:00.005-05:00

CAMARADAS el barrio Presents its monthly Puerto Rican flavor
of Bomba & Plena with BAMBULA .

Saturday, February 28th 2009
Showtime:10pm
Cover:$5

CAMARADAS el barrio
2241 First Avenue
Spanish Harlem, NYC 10029
www.camaradaselbarrio.com

For more info.
www.myspace.com/bambularaiz
718-200-9361

Thank You!

2009-02-16T15:53:00.003-05:00

Just want to say Thank You to all the friends and family that have sent me those beautiful Get Well Wishes through emails, txt and calls.
I am back home and feeling better, so you guys will see me around soon Rumbeando with Ilu Aye, and Bombeando with Bambula.

Again thank you everyone, for the love.

Bendiciones. Paz. Luz.
Norka

De Un Ave Las Dos Alas!

2009-01-26T09:40:00.007-05:00

Cuban Palo meets Puerto Rican Bomba
With

& Invited Guest ILU AYE

JANUARY 31st
10pm

@:

CAMARADAS el barrio
2241 First Avenue
(corner of 115th St.)
Spanish Harlem, NYC
http://www.camaradaselbarrio.com/

Cover: $5

ILU AYE @ La Pregunta Arts Cafe 1/30/09

2009-01-22T20:51:00.003-05:00

Ever been on a virtual musical tour of the caribbean? No?!!

Well no worries!

Ilu Aye has the right travel package deal for you. Come check us out but don't come alone; on this kind of trip you wanna have a friend to tag along.

You know what they say... Two is better than one!!!!

ILU AYE is bound to leave you breathless, sweaty and screaming for more!

2009-01-21T14:10:00.005-05:00

Back in October I had the pleasure to share the stage with some of the female members of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra who have gotten together and formed a wonderful quintet called The Venusz Enemble. Above is the New York Concert Review.

Memoria De Un Ayer

2009-01-21T09:18:00.005-05:00

Sitting on the third step of the stairs I look at my grandmother giving my cousin a scolding for not behaving and for trying to get over on some 'Quenepas' he was supposed to share with the rest of us. I sat silently on the steps waiting for my uncles to come into the yard, it was the weekend and that meant Musica en el patio!
Finally the men of the family start to pour in, wives and kids at their sides. My bigger cousins had to help carry the things I always waited for the most, the drums!
Once everyone had said their hellos, etc., the rum started to flow, more family members would join us coming in from the back side of the yard, through the front and at times they seem to just appear in front of me out of nowhere cause I never saw them come in. La cosa es que once the place was full of all these Negros y Negras, eran cuando el guarapo de ca~a se ponia bueno!
Tia Wichin would belt out a song and everyone would respond to her call. Tia Wichin was a tall statuesque woman, her skin was black, the kind of black that shines against the light. She was a force to be reckon with and she sang like her life depended on it, her voice full of feelings for those that came before her and that I never had the pleasure to meet. She would sit on a chair and sip on a small cup filled with, what else? Rum! and would point with her finger as she sang to emphasize the story told. Everyone in El Batey, danced and sang. We, the little ones would run around between them creating havoc between their sweating bodies and spilled rum on the floor. Food would be everywhere on tables, cups full of different kinds of drinks - but mostly rum; and we would just try to play it cool while taking sips from the cups. We really thought that went unnoticed, but that was never the case.
I felt a hand hold my arm tightly as another hand pulled the cup away from my mouth - too late! I had drank it already! Don't remember how much, but enough to make things swirl around me a bit. I was sat down by my oldest cousin who was supposed to look out for me and to do so he gave me a Maraca.
The music was so loud in my ears, Aristalco Alfonso danced with my grandmother and I was so intrigued by the way they danced that I started to really pay attention. I realized that one of the drummers followed everything Aristalco was doing, it seemed like he guessed what he was going to danced next and I loved it! My grandmother too had tricks of her own and the drummer seem to get even more focused and would lower his head but never his eyes as they would always be fixed on their feet and body. From time to time he would look at their faces but only for what seemed like a second.
They stood tall, heads held high, they seem like they owned the world when they danced. They were like a King and Queen!
As the dancing group got bigger, Cecilia joined the couple and as she did she slightly bowed her head to Aristalco and my grandmother, who returned the gesture; then she turns to the drummer who had been playing and did the same thing. Another voice called out a different song, this time it was Malen and the song made everyone get up, respond and spill a bit of rum on the floor. It was for the Muertos and everyone knew it.
"Veni a llora to' lo hombre... por que un difunto...."
Suddenly I became aware of myself and realized that I was shaking the maraca, how did I start playing? I don't know. But there I was, shaking the Maraca and later on that day I would prove that I was a drummer in the making. As everyone took a break to eat drink and chat, I sat in front of a Buleador and began to play what has been my most favorite rhythm in Bomba - Yuba.
Everyone turned to look to see me and my little hands playing and so my uncle joined med and played the Primo. That day I began my real training in Bomba; there was no telling me "this is how you place your hands" or "strike the drum this way" it was just sit there look at what i do and keep up if you can. No time to lecture me. In my family, if this is what you want to learn you have to keep up or get out.
From that day on I was the little drummer girl at the end of the line. And so I did keep up and learned from the best in my family and close friends, the way Bomba is played in Mayaguez.
Today whenever I sit and play my Barriles in a performance, I think of all those family members and friends -that were more like relatives- and I thank and pay homage to them. It is at these moments in my adult life that I see them in the crowds, standing between people in the audience. I see their smiling faces, I feel their presence around me and feel their energy that gives me the stamina to play hard just like any guy out there. For them I play always and with them I walk for ever.
A to' mis muertos que me acompa~an, igbae!
A to' mis muerto que me dan la musa pa poder cantar improvisa'o, Modupue!
Gracias por su Ache, sus bendiciones y sus recelos para conmigo, yo soy su hija por siempre. Sangre de su sangre y carne de su carne.
Pa' Uds. es mi voz profunda y mi sentimiento.
Por Uds. yo canto, bailo y toco como lo hago, de no ser asi dejaria de ser quien soy Norka 'La Flaka' Nadal! Hija de un Rumbero de esquina y una bailadora de Bomba.
Echo fuego si me quieren quemar y llevo la clave en mi corazon!
Soy el melao de la melaza y llevo lo que endulza el guarapo,
llevo el Carabali en las Manos y Congo en los pies!
Soy flor de ca~a brava en noche de luna llena.
Conmigo resuenan las voces del mas alla,
y al bailar, la sandunga de mi guacandao me lleva
y tiembla la tierra, tiembla!
Lo mio es de ayer, lo mio es de tiempo Espa~a
que al sonar de cualquier tambo'
eso negro' se revuelcan pa' hacerse sentir.

Our New President

2009-01-20T21:49:00.002-05:00

A new chapter in our government has begun. Barack Obama and his cabinet will have a very hard task ahead of them. This mess left by the previous government will not be fixed in a few months or even a year. Let's see what the man has to give us as our president - let him get to work.

He is our first African American president ever and in him lies the hopes and dreams of a nation torn by hatred, war, and financial distress. I voted for Obama because I think true change would come with him. Good Bless Barack Obama, his family and may he withstand the hardships of his presidency.

Let the hard work of true change begin!

Writer's Workshop In The Bronx!!

2009-01-06T14:11:00.002-05:00

Mightier Than The Sword Creative Writer's Workshop: An Introduction

"Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword."
Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton (1803–1873)

"Con la pluma se desgarra el alma o se convierte en un universo"
As is... Julia De Burgos (1914–1953)

If your desire is to write for publication, to share your ideas, to write a memoir, to learn the art of Journal writing, or maybe you suffer from writer's block and simply have a desire to write in a supportive environment.
Mightier Than The Sword Creative Writer's Workshop: An Introduction is a great way to get you started in the path of Creative Writing. Facilitator Albert Diaz-Cruz will lay down the foundations that will serve as stepping stones into your Creative Writing journey.
Albert has been teaching in Washington Hights for over 20 years.

Introductory class on January 10th - Please bring Notebook, pen and old magazines.

Here are some of the areas that this full workshop will cover:
How to keep a Writer's Notebook
Collecting Entries
The Power of Children's Literature
Creating a Writerly Life
The Writing Cycle
Strategies and Tools
"Rights of Passage"
Diaries & Journals: A brief history
...And much more!

ALL CLASSES HELD ON SATURDAYS FROM 3-5PM at:

The Point CDC
940 Garrison Avenue
(Corner of Menida St.)
Bronx, NY 10474

SCHEDULE
**Saturday January 10th - Introductory Workshop
Satuday January 24th
Saturdays February 7th & 21st
Saturdays March 7th & 21st
Saturdays April 4th & 18th
Saturdays May 2nd & 16th
Saturday May 30th A Writer's Celebration!

Writer's Contribution:
We request a contribution of $10 at each workshop to cover for space rental and material expenses - Cash Only Please.
**No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
writers2writing@aol.com

Letra Del Año 2009

2009-01-05T23:50:00.002-05:00

LETRA DEL AÑO 2009
ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL YORUBA DE CUBA
Signo: OGUNDA MEYI

Profecía: Ire Ishegun otá yale tesi elese Orunmila, ( Suerte para vencer las dificultades seguro y firme gracias a Orunmila.) Ponerle Adimú a Orunmila de 2 cocos con una jícara de agua y dos velas, rogándole varios días.
Gobierna: Elegbara (Eleguá)
Acompaña: Oyá

Bandera: Roja con ribetes amarillos.

EBO: 1 gallo, 3 gallinas, 2 palomas, tierra de la entrada de un pueblo, menestras de todo tipo, palillo de dientes, tablit a de cedro, 1 anzuelo, pita, tela blanca, 3 flechas, cepa de plátano, un güin, 1 pescado entero, muñecos hembra y macho, 1 sábana blanca, pescado y jutía ahumada, maíz tostado, aguardiente, 2 velas, 2 cocos, opolopó owó.

REFRANES DEL SIGNO.
Dos personas que luchan por una misma cosa.
La rama cortada y transplantada se reproduce semejante a su tronco original.
La discusión saca la luz.
Saber esperar es de sabio.
El cuchillo corta y rasga y la sangre corre.
El llanto se vuelve risa y lo perdido aparece.
Si el machete va al campo corte o no corte hierbas él regresa a casa.

PROHIBICIONES:
No se puede portar ningún tipo de armas.
No cruzar fosas, zanjas, huecos, etc.

OBRAS DEL SIGNO.
Baldear la casa con berro, canutillo, paraíso y miel de abeja para vencer dificultades.
Bañarse con frecuencia con hojas de Ceiba.
Regar harina de maíz en los alrededores de la vivienda para lograr desenvolvimiento.
Rogarse de vez en cuando la cabeza con coco y agua.

Nace en este signo:
-La cirugía, la ciencia de la guerra, la energía de la tierra, la hipertensión arterial, la castración, las acciones agresivas, y el saludo a los Babalawos.

RECOMENDACIONES.

Dice Ifa: Será necesario cuidarse de accidentes, tragedias y discusiones, porque se puede perder la vida y en el mejor de los casos podrá perder la salud para siempre.
Dice Ifa: Que debemos tener una conducta recta y decorosa con un gran sentido de organización en todos los aspectos, sociales, religioso y personales.
Dice Ifa: Que los mayores están en la obligación de enseñar a los ahijados y a la familia en general en cuanto a la preservación de los principios, religiosos, éticos y morales.
Dice Ifa: Se recomienda la superación educacional, cultural y moral de cada persona para lograr el progreso y ser considerados y respetados por todos.
Dice Ifa: Que en este signo nace la justicia y la ley, por lo que todos nuestras acciones deben ser dentro del marco de la ley evitando a todo costo el incurrir en errores.
Dice Ifa: Se pronostica un incremento de delitos que traerán como consecuencia involuc rase en procedimientos penales, por lo que debe evitarse que se comentan hechos delictivos.
Dice Ifa: Que las mujeres en este signo tienen que tener cuidado con problemas en sus órganos genitales, embarazos, intervenciones quirúrgicas, inflamaciones pélvicas entre otras.
Dice Ifa: Que las mujeres deberán evitar el acudir a la prostitución como vía de solución a sus problemas debiendo mantenerse fuera de este flagelo.
Dice Ifa: Que este signo habla de problemas del tracto digestivo, malas digestiones, úlceras perforadas, apendicitis y otras enfermedades producidas por el estrés que pueden incidir en el comportamiento de las personas.
Dice Ifa: Que debemos cuidarnos la boca si tenemos piezas picada o enfermas que se deben arreglar o sacar para así evitar enfermedades del estómago.
Dice Ifa: Debemos tener los documentos en el orden legal establecido y en particular con propiedades, viviendas, contratos, para evitar situaciones embarazosas.
Dice Ifa: Que debemos mantener nuestras casas organizadas y limpias, en caso de encontrarse en mal estado tratar de repararlas.
Dice Ifa: Seguirán manifestándose los problemas climatológicos, sismos, penetraciones del mar, huracanes e inundaciones.
Dice Ifa: Q ue no debemos despreocuparnos de la atención a la tierra para poder mantener la productividad que será de beneficio para todos.
Dice Ifa: Que debemos orientar a proteger el medio ambiente, pues es por el beneficio de todos.
Dice Ifa: Que hay que tener controles este año porque pueden producirse epidemias y enfermedades producidas por el resultados de fenómenos naturales. .
Dice Ifa: Que hay que darle especial atención a los niños en sentido general referente a su salud, y ayudar en el control de la conducta.
Dice Ifa: Que se deben hacer fiestas en honor a los Ibeyis para así lograr tranquilidad y prosperidad en nuestros hogares.
Dice Ifa: Que se debe atender al Oricha Ogún ya que nos ofrecerá apoyo y protección.
Dice Ifa: Se recomienda dentro de las posibilidades que debemos apoyarnos en Azowano y Yewá, si es necesario, recibirlos.
Dice Ifa: Que Changó nos fiscalizará nuestros actos, por lo que será necesario se realicen los mismos con rigor y transparencia.
Dice Ifa: Que debemos utilizar las virtudes de la botánica para la cura y solución de algunas enfermedades, acudiendo a la medicina tradicional sin descuidar la atención mA 9dica directa.

Para conocimiento general
El primero de Diciembre del 2008, con la presencia de un número significativo de Babalawos cubanos y de otros países y los miembros del consejo Cubano de Sacerdotes Mayores de Ifá, se realizaron las ceremonias correspondientes a la Pre-apertura de la Letra del año 2009 en la Institución Religiosa Asociación Cultural Yoruba de Cuba.

Las recomendaciones fueron las siguientes:
Se dio lo que pidieron las 25 posiciones fundamentales. En todos los casos la respuesta de las deidades, fueron muy satisfactorias.
El día 30 de Diciembre del 2008, se hicieron los sacrificios correspondientes a las deidades que se determinó en la Pre-Apertura.
REALIZADO SUS CEREMONIALES EN LA “INSTITUCIÓN RELIGIOSA” ASOCIACIÓN CULTURAL YORUBA DE CUBA

http://www.conexioncubana.net/index.php?st=content&sk=view&id=7470

CANNABIS INDUCED RANT: by Norka Nadal

2008-12-11T20:39:00.003-05:00

I'm the face of a nation fighting to stay afloat,
generation that screams the loudest for attention,
while picketing in a cashmere coat.

Our children full of aggression
disclose their intentions on YouTube videos
spitin' words in fucked up rap sessions.
Obsession, oppression, possession
control and domination... we live in the bulliest of nations.

Martin Luther King - true believer in nonaggression,
ponder this knowledge in you weed induced skull sessions....
Don't think for a minute the government will fix this mess
with a big ass jam session!
Mighty US Nation... how fucked up is Uncle Sam's facial expression?

Our clinical depression is nothing more than an executive session
with indirect, linear and multiple regression...
...FDA... take a pill.. putting your feelings, thoughts
and opinions to sleep.
They don't care what they reap, just as long the labor's cheap...
and all the while you lie numb and brain stiffed,
they portray themselves as the white sheep.

But in all this, what of the children we don't dare look and see
with empty stomachs while they sleep atop diamond rich soil, their bodies naked and ill...
FDA will test their shit and never tell you what it is.. believing in Zion
What the fuck? they must think they're scion!

Super size me, upgrade, downgrade, upload, and download...
but have you ever looked at the barcode?
Why should they regulate how the fuck you wanna reload?!!
Pill popper, syringe devoted, all of you the FDA has encoded! The language of Meth... Morse Coded!

That's why I stay loyal to what I grow, cause it has never stopped my flow.... puff puff pass... PUFF PUFF PASS!

©NORKA NADAL

DE DONDE VENGO by: Norka Nadal

2008-12-10T08:49:00.002-05:00

De Donde Vengo

Soy; Soy de un lugar que cuando el palmar se mece,
despoja la bruma que pueda llevar cualquier cabeza.
Soy de ahi.
Sol de medio dia que pica
mas fuerte que una avispa.

Soy el ronquido de la molienda,
el musculo incansable del negro que la trabaja,
y mi sudor, melao de ca~a.
Soy de ahi.
Espalda doblada que no descanza.

Soy la flor de ca~a brava con aroma a melaza,
el filo de un machete y la curva del garabato.
Soy noche de Zafra en pleno Febrero.
Soy de ahi.
Cuero de tambo afina'o que repica.

Soy Luna llena de ca~ero que arropa el valle mochero,
corriente de rio que acompa~a el sendero
del humano que camina bajo el sereno.
Soy de ahi.
De la raiz silvestre que habita en cada ser.

Soy la sicatriz que todavia sangra
por las injusticias en contra de mi gente negra.

Soy la esclava, la cimarrona, y la curandera.
Soy la mulata concubina y la negra hechicera.
Soy la noche, soy el dia.
Soy quien en tus sue~os habla del Africa lejana.

De Donde Vengo?
De ahi.
Quien soy?
La Esencia antes de que fuera Ser.

Soy la belleza de la quietud del silencio,
y la musa que duerme dentro.
Lagrima de sal que se convierte en ancho mar,
tierra obscura fertil que doy mis hijos para alimentar.
Soy de ahi, de donde vengo.

Copyright © 2008 by Norka Nadal