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Bloco Afro/Samba-Reggae

What is Diaspora?

Diaspora is an ensemble of musicians and dancers based in San Diego, California. Performances include drumming, percussion, dance, and vocals to create a blend of audio and visual entertainment. The music derives from the blocos afros of Bahia, Brazil, but has roots in many cultures. It is inspired by percussion music of the African diaspora.

Performances are geared towards stage performance for dance clubs, a seated audience, or a mixture. Emphasis is on percussion and physical movement over melody or verbal content, though all elements are involved. The percussion is massive, with powerful beats that shake the walls, topped by intricate, intoxicating lead drumming that will captivate you.

Diaspora means "dispersal", used when a culture is displaced or spreads into far-flung parts of the world, either by choice or force. This name was inspired by the African diaspora of the central Atlantic, from West Africa to the Caribbean to Brazil. The music we play is mainly inspired by cultures within, and affected by, this diaspora. We also take "African Diaspora" in its extended form: the dispersal of all people of the world from our common ancestors in Africa. We are all members of the African Diaspora.

The music and dance performed by Diaspora is infectious and the beats flow through the body, permeating you from head to stomach. Your feet will be too busy moving to be permeated. Diaspora draws on sources in the African communities of the central Atlantic rim, including the following.

Brazil: Samba-reggae, bloco-afro, and samba
Brazil has unique drum ensembles that play music inherited from immigrants from the Nigerian and Angolan regions of Africa that use surdo bass drums and snare drums as a rhythmic foundation. The most famous are the huge parades of drummers in the Rio de Janeiro Carnaval parades. In recent years, a new form has developed in the state of Bahia, called samba-reggae. This style of music emerged from the bloco-afro movement in Salvador, Bahia. Bloco-afro are groups from the neighborhoods of Salvador who celebrate their African origins through music, dance, education, and community spirit. Diaspora was inspired heavily by bloco-afro drumming groups. Dancing ranges from hot, erotic wriggling samba to elegant poised West African.

West African drumming from Nigeria and the Mandinke region
We integrate rhtyhms from the Niger River basin (Nigeria, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, etc.) into our Brazilian bass drum foundation. Much of this element of our music is improvisational. Hand drums include Mandinke jembes and the timbal, a lightweight hand drum from Bahia.

Caribbean Islands, including reggae
Another layer of our rhythms is provided by metallic tenor and snare drums. These are from Brazil, and often play on the upbeats to give the rhythms a reggae feel. Reggae and Rastafarianism are very strong influences on the bloco-afro movement. The snares provide a persistant roll, while the tenor drums, called repiques, play sharp accents and leads.

North American funk, rap, and hip-hop
Yet another element of our music comes from our American streets. We include funky beats to enrich our pulsing rhythms and give them a little of our native sound.

Miscellaneous
We don't limit ourselves to the musical forms above. We may throw in a few surprises.

Membership

Joining Diaspora
We have no maximum membership. We are always open to new people, especially if we like them. The most dedicated members are selected for public performance; however, practices and jams are open to all. Diaspora has not only performances, but also classes. Some members only attend the classes.

Practice Location
We began in a parking lot in San Diego's Balboa Park. Now, we rehearse at Mind, Body & Soul dance studio near downtown San Diego, and the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.

Brazil Carnaval
San Diego-based Brazilian Carnaval website. Features numerous links to Carnaval-related sites and features.

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