The Centro Cultural Afroperuano San Daniel Comboni de el Carmen, Peru (SEE ALSO this LINK) is located, not surprisingly, in the largely Afro-Peruvian town of El Carmen, in the southern coastal region of Peru. Its focus is on maintaining the traditional Afro-Peruvian celebration of Christmas and the related celebration of the Virgin of Carmen, both of which include the groups of dancers referred to as the hatajos de negritos.
In addition, the center wants to promote pride of self in the Afro-Peruvian community, and support the educational and cultural needs of Afro-Peruvians.
The center offers music and dance classes. Here, kids are learning some zapateo steps. So this is how you do it!
And here´s a video of some more of their activities. This was to celebrate Book Day, to promote reading, and includes children´s performing. Cute.
The traditional Afro-Peruvian Christmas celebration, and the celebration of the presumed appearance of the Virgin of Carmen on Dec. 28, along with the participation in both of the celebrations of the hatajo de negritos, are among the most important expressions of Afro-Peruvian identity. Firmly grounded in the Catholic religion, these celebrations are centuries old.
As our documentary film, A Zest for Life, explains, the hatajo de negritos were on the verge of disappearing. A recently deceased master of the dances performed by the hatajos, Amador Ballumbrosio, deserves credit for being a major force in assuring their continued preservation. His family, along with Margarita Cordoba and others such as Edith Maldonado and Carlos O. López Schmidt, have undertaken to continue his work in the present day.
OUR NEXT POST will be about the Museo Afroperuano de Zaña
