African presence: Dominican Republic

Glimpses of the African presence in the Dominican Republic:
MUSEUM OF THE NATIONAL CENTER OF AFRO AMERICAN ARTS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2008. ROXBURY, BOSTON The film titled Dominican Identity and Migration to Hispaniola produced by Hostos Community College Director of Public Relations, Nestor Montilla.


Grupo Kalunga Neg Mawon is a musical dance ensemble that consists of members who have spent most of their lives researching and studying African culture in the Americas. Our aim is to preserve aspects of African tradition and identity existing in Quisqueya--Ayiti, known today as the Dominican Republic and The Republic of Haiti. We use the name Kalunga to highlight the Congolese cultural aspects retained in Dominican/Haitian culture and throughout the African Diaspora of the western hemisphere, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc. Kalunga is a Goddess of the Congolese people known also as the Muntu-Bantu or Bakongo. She is the universal cosmos, the great bang from which all life comes, including the depths of the seas and the oceans. Kalunga also represents a time when Congolese culture was dominated by a matriarchal system where women played a prominent role in society. Neg Mawon translates into Black Maroons--those who fought against slavery, many of whom were Congolese descendants like Sebastian Lemba. We use the term Neg Mawon to symbolize our resistance against slavery and colonialism in a struggle to maintain and develop our African identity against overwhelming odds. KALUNGA'S MISSION Grupo Kalunga Neg Mawon is a musical dance ensemble that consists of members who have spent most of their lives researching and studying African culture in the Americas. Our aim is to preserve aspects of African tradition and identity existing in Quisqueya--Ayiti, known today as the Dominican Republic and The Republic of Haiti. We use the name Kalunga to highlight the Congolese cultural aspects retained in Dominican/Haitian culture and throughout the African Diaspora of the western hemisphere, such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc. Kalunga is a Goddess of the Congolese people known also as the Muntu-Bantu or Bakongo. She is the universal cosmos, the great bang from which all life comes, including the depths of the seas and the oceans. Kalunga also represents a time when Congolese culture was dominated by a matriarchal system where women played a prominent role in society. Neg Mawon translates into Black Maroons--those who fought against slavery, many of whom were Congolese descendants like Sebastian Lemba. We use the term Neg Mawon to symbolize our resistance against slavery and colonialism in a struggle to maintain and develop our African identity against overwhelming odds. Our mission is to educate adults and children of all walks of life about the richness of our artistic culture and bring about a better understanding and tolerance in the Americas as well as the African Diaspora and to support organizations who strive to uplift humanity. We will achieve our mission by providing performances, producing multi-media documentaries, recordings, and workshops teaching the history, music, dance, and songs which our Congolese ancestors have passed on to us. This will help to preserve aspects of our traditions and their benefits, some of which are tolerance, struggle, self-dignity and a positive cultural experience which will foster cross-cultural appreciation and self-accomplishment.