On Sunday, twenty-two female singers from various parts of Puerto Rico participated in the sixth annual gathering dedicated to bomba, held at the Carlos “Tata” Cirino Osorio public square in Loíza—a municipality in the archipelago’s north considered one of the birthplaces of this musical genre.
RELATED:
Bogota Hosts New Edition of the Leisure and Fantasy Fair
The event highlighted the contributions of women to bomb and Puerto Rican culture. “It is very important because we must continue to amplify the female voice, given that, ancestrally, it was the woman’s voice that carried the call to the bateyes,” Maribella Burgos Pizarro—a professional bomba dancer and the event’s founder—told EFE. Bateyes are gathering spaces for singers and dancers.
New additions to this year’s edition included two singers hailing from western and southern Puerto Rico. The day began with four young girls singing to the rhythm of the bomba drums, demonstrating the participation of new generations in preserving this tradition.
The gathering also honored the career of Julie Laporte, a singer from Guayama who has been performing this musical genre for 42 years. Upon receiving the tribute, Laporte expressed her gratitude for the recognition and voiced her desire to continue serving others and honoring her ancestors.
Puerto Rican bomba emerged among enslaved people and combines Taíno, African, and Spanish influences. The genre encompasses more than 21 rhythms; among the best-known are sicá, seis corridos, Holandé, Cuembé, and Yubá.
La plaza pública de Medianía Alta será escenario de una jornada dedicada a la tradición afroboricua, con música en vivo y un homenaje a la gestora cultural, poeta y cantora Julie Laporte. https://t.co/ZmO6AmKgNK
— El Vocero de Puerto Rico (@VoceroPR) October 10, 2026
The text reads, “The public square of Medianía Alta will be the stage for a day dedicated to the Afro-Boricua tradition, with live music and a tribute to the cultural manager, poet, and singer Julie Laporte.”
Burgos Pizarro noted that the number of interested people has grown over the last decade, and the number of gathering spaces—such as bateyes, theatrical performances, and concerts—has multiplied. “I feel hopeful, and it is truly a source of great pride to see everything people are doing for bomba,” she said.
The music has also reached wider audiences through the incorporation of bomba rhythms into productions by figures in jazz, salsa, and reggaeton. Artists mentioned include William Cepeda, Bad Bunny, and Rauw Alejandro. The barriles also resounded during the 31-concert residency Benito Martínez Ocasio held last year at Puerto Rico’s José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | In Puerto Rico, more than 125,000 customers are without power following the abrupt shutdown of unit five at the Costa Sur power plant. pic.twitter.com/CX3LEJvaNG
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 16, 2026
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.