Name: Pedro Izquierdo
Date of birth: 7 January 1933
Place of birth: Havana, Cuba
Deceased: 11 September 2000
Pedro Izquierdo, or better known as Pello el Afrokan, is considered the inventor of the Afro-Cuban rhythm of Mozambique, and a world famous percussionist. Pedro was born in Havana, Cuba as a grandson of Mandingos, who reproduced African drums. “That’s the blood running through my veins” he said.
In 1959 he formed his own band and played in the most exclusive cabaret place “Tropicana”.“The Mozambique is played with 12 conga drums, two bass drums, three bells, a frying pan, four trumpets and three trombones. An innovation. The percussionists were exceptional, that’s my specialty. I created a set with five conga drummers.”
These rhythms were from the Afro-Cuban heritages: Abakuá, Yoruba, Congo, Carabalí and Jiribilla. Later these inventions were added to the standard curriculum of music at the University of Havana.
El Afrokan and his ensemble went to a worldwide tour. They played the Mozambique in Paris Olympia Theater in 1965. Their fame was unstoppable and took them to the famous New York Carnegie Hall and Japan in 1979.
The outstanding composer and master percussionist Pedro Izquierdo passed away at the age of 67 in cancer.
Discography:
1960’s Un Sabor Que Canta
2001 Pello El Afrikán
by Zsuzsa Melkvi
---
About the Author: Zsuzsa Melkvi is a salsa dancer and teacher, having competed in Latin-American and Standard dances from 1995-1998. She is also the founder of Baila Cuba (www.bailacuba.hu), a Dance company focused on giving exclusively pure Afro-Cuban workshops in Hungary. Zsuzsa holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Hertfordshire.
Place Comment