Honorees
Date of Establishment
BombaYo was founded in 2006 by Jose "Dr. Drum" Ortiz, a Bronx native and acclaimed Afro-Puerto Rican Bomba artist.
Mission
BombaYo ignites the ancestral rhythms of Bomba, an African-derived music and dance tradition developed in Puerto Rico. The synergy of call-and-response singing, drumming, and dance provides the foundation for a dynamic interplay between the solo drummer and dancer. In the spirit of Sankofa—looking to your past for a better future—BombaYo members draw from the Bomba tradition to enrich their lives and embrace their cultural legacy. Through workshops, cultural presentations, performances, and partnerships, BombaYo engages communities throughout the NYC area to raise awareness of Afro-Puerto Rican culture and to connect Bomba to the vast traditions of the African Diaspora.
Contributions to Puerto Rican Culture
BombaYo has significantly contributed to the preservation and promotion of Afro-Puerto Rican culture by:
Educational Outreach: Offering workshops and cultural presentations that educate participants on the historical and cultural origins of Bomba, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of this rich tradition.
Community Engagement: Creating intergenerational and participatory experiences that honor people of all ages and abilities, BombaYo fosters community building and cultural pride within the Puerto Rican and broader Afro-Latino communities.
Cultural Preservation: By drawing from the Bomba tradition to enrich lives and embrace cultural legacy, BombaYo ensures the continuation and vitality of this traditional art form, connecting it to the vast traditions of the African Diaspora.