‘My Life Before Me’ – (2010)
My Life Before Me is a documentary short about the life of Afro-Cuban folkloric musician and Lukumi (Santeria) priest Carlos Lazaro Aldama Perez.
Carlos’s life has been dedicated to his cultural music and religion. His story illustrates the idea that culture is a living thing; it is not limited by geographical borders, but exists within people and thrives on social exchange. The film explores how African traditions survived slavery and how they are now thriving two centuries later not only here in California, but all over the world.
Carlos was born in Havana Cuba in 1938. His mother is of African ancestry, and father is mixed Chinese and African ancestry. Though he had a strong traditional education there were not many opportunities for young men of African ancestry prior to the Cuban Revolution (1959). After the revolution, this changed dramatically. Carlos was recognized for his depth of knowledge in African Diaspora culture and was invited to be a co-founder of the Ministry of Culture, Havana Cuba (1959). He then also became the co-founder of Conjunto Folklorico Nacional de Cuba (1962).
He also worked closely with Lydia Cabrera one of the most widely published scholars on Afro-Cuban Diaspora religions and producer of the historic Smithsonian Folkway Recordings (1956-57). The knowledge that he has was passed to him orally by his teacher Jesus Perez “Oba Ilu”. Jesus Perez was the original musical director of CFNC. After Jesus moved on, Carlos became the musical director for the next fifteen years of the total twenty-eight years in which he remained with CFNC. During that time he traveled the world with the group performing some of the most prestigious stages in the world, from Paris to Moscow, from Lima to Mexico City, New York to Toronto, Madrid to Florence, Varsovia to Argel, Accra to Kinshasa to name a few. Both the Cuban government and the Ministry of Culture have recognized Carlos for significant contribution to the richness and livelihood of Afro-Cuban traditions.
‘De Los Tamboleros Primeros
Yoruba de Cuba’
Carlos Aldama, 1997
In this clip Carlos begins by paying respect to his elders and teachers who came before him. The video was recorded in 1997 and features Carlos is playing the Iya, Chris ‘Flaco’ Walker on Itoltele and Ed Valencia on okonkolo. This clip is a short introduction to the video in which they play Oro Seco all the way to Eggun. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this video please contact Carlos directly. Contact information on the front page.
Regino Jiménez ,Carlos Aldama , Cris Walker RARE footage@bembe
Regino Jiménez and Carlos Aldama rare footage@bembe in Bolinas california joined by Cris Walker aka “Flaco”, Michael Pluznick, Wade Peterson (Arthur Hull student), Noah Mascofian (Stomp), Sean Areneda and others!
Bata by Carlos Aldama “Igbodu” (opening) for Afro Cuban Bembe
Bata by Carlos Aldama “Igbodu” (opening) for Afro Cuban Bembe
Carlos sings with Afrocuba de Matanzas @ private bembe In Oakland
Members of the legendary Cuban folkloric troupe, “Afrocuba De Mantnzas” play bata and chant at a private bembe In Oakland. Here they are joined by Carlos Aldama on vocals.e
Güiro for Ochun
‘Historia de un Ballet’
Dir. José Massip, 1962
This is a short scene form Jose Massip’s documentary, ‘Historia de un Ballet’. In this scene we witness a staged performance of a guiro for the orisha Ochun. Lázaro Ros the legendary akpwón is singing the lead vocal. Carlos is pictured seated in the middle playing the low conga drum with another drummer, Trinidad Torregrosa. Trinidad was one of the earliest and most important collaborators of Fernando Ortiz. He was also a founding member of CFN along with Carlos, Jesus Perez and Lazaro Ros.
Toque de batá
‘Historia de un Ballet’
Di. José Massip, 1962
This is a short scene form Jose Massip’s documentary, ‘Historia de un Ballet’. Andres Cruz is playing iya next to Jesús Pérez on itotele (then aged 47) and Carlos Aldama’s brother Alphonso Perez is playing okonkolo. The akpwón (singer) is Eugenio de la Rosa, regarded as one of the greatest singers of the “older generation” before Lazaro Ros, from the time of Pablo Roche.