This is a video clip of a dance performance we witnessed in Havana, Cuba in 1895 when I went there to study traditional Afro Cuban drumming. The group performing is called, Raices Profunda or “Deep Roots” in english. This is a dance for the Orisha Oshun. The drummers are playing bata drums from the Yoruba tradition brought to Cuba by the slaves.

There are many famous players and rumba dancers in this group. This was one of the first amateur home made films coming out of that era. It was made on a Sony video8 camcorder which was just released in 1985.

Oshun Drum and Dance performance in Cuba by Raices Profunda in Havana 1985