http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/archives_03.aspx A wonderful Smithsonian website displaying audio/visual samplings of Bomba and Plena. You'll get up and join in the rhythm and dance on this one!
http://hometown.aol.com/np4cc/music.htm Background information on music heard throughout Puerto Rico accompanied by wonderful and enticing traditional music
http://www.bongocentral.com/drums.htm an informative advertisement website that provides photo images and sound bites of West African drums
http://www.batadrums.com/background/yoruba.htm Audio sampling of bata drums played in Nigeria and Cuba for various ceremonies and occasions (e.g., a woman's funeral, Yoruba prayers to Shango, orisha festival rhythms…)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_TZFVjncuA&eurl= Audio/visual sampling of djembe drumming accompanied by dance movements
http://spaces.msn.com/my-puerto-rico/ Audio sampling of African influence in Puerto Rican drumming
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$409 Audio sampling of Nigerian drum rhythms brought over to Cuba used for secret society and traditional religion ceremonies
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$224 Audio sampling of Liberian "dinner-will-be-served" rhythms
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$224 Audio sampling of Gahu rhythms from the Ewe people of Ghana
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$227 Audio sampling of Kpanlongo from the Ga people of Ghana
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$881 Senegalese Djembe players
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$425 Senegalese Djembe rhythms
http://www.songtrellis.com/discuss/msgReader$339 Bomba and Plena rhythms of Puerto Rico and Cuba
http://encarta.msn.com/media_461533026/Bomba_Music_of_Puerto_Rico.html Sampling of traditional bomba music of Puerto Rico
http://www.batadrums.com/background/bembe.htm Sampling of Cuban drum rhythms with background information
http://americanhistory.si.edu/celiacruz/main.asp?lang=MCo3044101946vWhS Musical selections by world renowned Cuban vocalist Celia Cruz; of particular note are
Ye Ye Oh Oh Guama
, a song dedicated to the Nigerian orisha (diety) Oshún,
A Papá
, a traditional Plena from Puerto Rico arranged in a salsa style
http://americanhistory.si.edu/celiacruz/ Azucar: an impressive on-line resource re: the life of world renowned Cuban vocalist Celia Cruz, presented by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Often accompanied by percussionists who like herself embraced the African connection, Celia used the word
"Azucar!"
whenever she made her intro on stage, heralding her rich connection with the spicy flare and flavor of her diverse ancestry, the Afro-Cuban rhythms, coupled with the subliminal historic connection that sugar was/an integral part of Cuba's economy, a product that propelled the slave trade in her homeland, yet the people survived.