Abildos

Abildos: Mutual aid societies formed by Afro-Cubans during the colonial era, serving as important social and cultural centers for the preservation of African traditions and identities.

Arará dances

Arará dances: Dances derived from the Arará folklore traditions in Cuba, reflecting the cultural influences of enslaved Africans brought to the island.

Asikan Batá

Asikan Batá: Batá drum rhythms used in Lukumí religious ceremonies, reflecting the African roots and spiritual significance of these percussion instruments in Cuban culture.

Bantú

Bantú: Referring to the cultural influences from Bantu peoples of Africa on Cuban society, including music, dance, and religious practices, brought by enslaved Africans during the transatlantic slave trade.

Cachao and El Gran Combo

Cachao and El Gran Combo: Cachao López was a pioneering Cuban bassist and composer, while El Gran Combo was an influential salsa group that helped shape and popularize the genre.

Carnavales

Carnavales: Carnivals or festival celebrations in Cuba and Latin America, often featuring vibrant music, dance, and costumes, and reflecting the region's rich cultural traditions.

Claves, maracas, bongos

Claves, maracas, bongos: Percussion instruments integral to Cuban music styles like rumba and son. Claves provide the foundational rhythmic pattern, while maracas and bongos add layers of texture and complexity.

Comparsa and secular Creole forms

Comparsa and secular Creole forms: Carnival groups and secular folk music styles in Cuba that blend African and European influences, reflecting the island's diverse cultural heritage.

Diaspora

Diaspora: The dispersion of Cubans and their culture worldwide, often due to political or economic factors, resulting in the spread and influence of Cuban traditions globally.

FITEI

FITEI: The Festival of Theater in the Streets, an annual event in Cuba that brings theatrical performances to public spaces, fostering community engagement with the arts.

Guaguancó

Guaguancó: A popular and sensual style of rumba featuring suggestive choreography and improvised call-and-response vocals, often considered the most complex and virtuosic form of rumba.

Guapachá rhythm

Guapachá rhythm: A rhythm pattern used in Cuban popular music, characterized by its syncopated and infectious beat, often incorporated into genres like son and rumba.

Lukumí

Lukumí: A term referring to Afro-Cuban religious practices derived from the Yoruba people of West Africa, blending elements of Christianity and traditional African spirituality.

Makara

Makara: A rhythm pattern used in rumba styles, providing the foundational rhythmic structure for the music and dance.

Matanza

Matanza: A city in Cuba known for its rich musical traditions, particularly in genres like rumba and son, and for producing many influential artists and performers.

National Butterfly Prize

National Butterfly Prize: A prestigious literary award presented in Cuba, recognizing outstanding works of fiction, poetry, and other written forms.

National Monologue Festival

National Monologue Festival: An annual festival in Cuba celebrating theater and other performing arts, showcasing the country's diverse artistic talents.

National Monologue Festival dances

National Monologue Festival dances: Dances performed at the annual National Monologue Festival in Cuba, celebrating the country's rich cultural heritage through movement.

Nkemyé drums

Nkemyé drums: Batá drums used in Lukumí religious ceremonies, producing a warm, resonant tone and playing a central role in these spiritual practices.

NRW Dance Festival, Germany

NRW Dance Festival, Germany: A dance festival held in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, featuring international performers and showcasing diverse dance styles from around the world, including Cuban traditions.

Rumba

Rumba: A secular genre of Cuban music involving dance, percussion, and call-and-response vocals. Major rumba styles include yambú, guaguancó, and columbia, each with its own distinctive rhythms and choreography.

Rumba and Drum Festival

Rumba and Drum Festival: A festival in Cuba focused on rumba music and drumming traditions, highlighting the African roots and influences that shaped these art forms.

Rumberos

Rumberos: Someone who enjoys a good time, particularly through rumba music and dance. Rumberos are often associated with the lively and celebratory spirit of Cuban culture.

Rustic kitchen dances

Rustic kitchen dances: Informal dance parties that took place in the kitchens of rural Cuban homes, often spontaneously erupting into lively celebrations of music and movement.

Sabor

Sabor: Literally meaning "flavor," this term refers to the essence or feeling of Cuban music, capturing the passion, energy, and soul that characterize the country's musical traditions.

Saga Loas

Saga Loas: Ritual songs and dances from the Arará folklore traditions in Cuba, reflecting the influences of enslaved Africans brought to the island.

Salsatros

Salsatros: A term used to describe salsa music performers or enthusiasts, reflecting the popularity and influence of this genre in Cuban and Latin American culture.

Sonavoz

Sonavoz: A record label specializing in Cuban music, preserving and promoting the country's rich musical heritage and contributing to its global recognition.

Tonadas

Tonadas: Cuban folk songs or melodies, often passed down through oral traditions and reflecting the country's diverse cultural influences.

Tradiciones Cubana

Tradiciones Cubana: Cuban cultural traditions, encompassing music, dance, art, literature, and other forms of expression that reflect the country's rich heritage and identity.

UNEAC

UNEAC: The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, a cultural institution established in 1961 to promote and support the arts in the country.

Yagueta

Yagueta: A style of rumba music and dance characterized by its fast tempo and intricate footwork, originating from the Matanzas region of Cuba.

Yambú

Yambú: The oldest style of rumba music, characterized by its slower tempo and emphasis on improvised call-and-response vocals and percussion.

Yeyé

Yeyé: A style of Cuban popular music that emerged in the 1960s, blending elements of rock and roll with traditional Cuban rhythms and influences.

Yeyelucumí

Yeyelucumí: A style of rumba music characterized by its fast tempo and complex rhythms, originating from the Matanzas region of Cuba.

Yoruba

Yoruba: An ethnic group from West Africa whose cultural influences, including religious practices, music, and dance, are present in Cuban society due to the Atlantic slave trade.