The seaside city of Loíza is the hub for African culture and tradition in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s melting pot of Spanish, Taino and African roots is evident in every aspect of the country.

However, the island’s rich Afro-Puerto Rican heritage and connection to Africa are highly revered in Loiza.

Loiza is a short distance from the capital city of San Juan and east of the government center, Carolina.. The small city has over 19 local beaches and is known for producing traditional vejigante masks and the best frituras in the area.

The origins of Loiza date back to the 16th century when members of the Yobura tribe settled here after they were brought to the island as enslaved West Africans. The customs brought from West Africa became the foundation of the Afro-Puerto Rican identity of the city’s residents.

According to Black Voice News, more than 60 percent of the residents identify as Black.

Known as “El Pueblo de la Cacica,” the small beach city has become the hub for African-inspired traditions, including art, food and dance.

Often called the “capital of traditions,” Loiza is home to Black Puerto Rican music. The high-energy and rhythmic Plena genre originated in Loiza, along with the drum-heavy Bomba music. The Bomba drum is native to the island and represents the heartbeat during its many festivals and gatherings. Usually played in pairs, the Bomba drum communicates with the body of the dancer to move with its natural intuition. The dance’s origins date back to the transatlantic slave trade and acts as a form of expression to honor African ancestors.

The Don Rafael Cepeda School of Bomba and Plena offers classes for visitors who want to learn the traditional dances. COPI, a cultural and ecotourism center in Piñones, also offers the classes along with bikes and kayaks for tourists to rent.

World-renowned Puerto Rican artist, Daniel Lind-Ramos, is a native of Loiza and creates art that depicts the rich history of the area. He opens his home studio allowing visitors to view his works and learn about their connection to the area. In an interview with Travel Noire, he shared the importance of paying homage to his African heritage.

“I am an African-Puerto Rican painter, artist, and sculptor. In my visual expressions (assemblages, mosaics, painting, drawing, performance and video), I want to pay homage to the traditional Afro-descendant communities through the presentation of the narratives, stories, materials, and practices that represent them in order to evaluate and appreciate their contribution to history. At the same time, I strive to suggest a fundamental part of the strategies of an expressive program that attempts to create an aesthetic that, as an inclusive mass, reflects from the polysemy of its meanings to the whole of humanity.”

Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.

This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 8:40 AM.