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National GeographicSep 12, 2024

Learning the bomba, Puerto Rico's oldest musical tradition

Puerto Rico has always marched to the beat of its own drum — and if you ask any Puerto Rican, they’ll tell you that the drum in question is the barril de bomba, a rum barrel topped with goat skin that ...

10 things in this story
  • bombaPlacecenturies-old Afro-Boricua dance and musical tradition
  • Juan FuentesPlacewood artisan making bomba drums for over 40 years
  • Cueva María de la CruzSightcave recently converted into a tourist centre
  • Sheila OsorioPlacebomba dance teacher whose workshops attract islanders
  • St James the Apostle FestivalFestivalthousands of Loiceños take to the streets to dance bomba
  • barril de bombaPlacerum barrel topped with goat skin, beaten during bomba dance
  • Elsewhere
  • Los Pleneros de la 21PlaceNew York City, United StatesGrammy-nominated band keeping the bomba beat alive
  • La Terraza De BonanzaRestaurantSan Juan, Puerto Ricohosts live bomba y plena nights on Mondays
  • La VergüenzaRestaurantOld San Juan, Puerto Ricooffers sensational sea views and hard-to-beat mojitos
  • Café BorikénRestaurantSan Juan, Puerto Ricoknown for reggaeton nights, expect bomba y plena Wednesdays
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