History of the Mambo

I will probably start a Cuban/Haitian Revolution with this blog entry but so be it. On my last trip to Boston, MA I had a very interesting conversation with my older sister where I learned that what we have known to recognize as a Cuban dance and musical style, the Mambo (as well as the Gaga, Tumba Francesa etc.) was in fact introduced to the Cubans by Haitians in the early 1940’s!! Yeah I said it...lol.

The mambo is a dance which originated in the Haitian settlements of Cuba. The dance of the mambo is not found in Haiti, although Haitians brought the dance to Cuba. In Haiti, a voodoo priestess is referred to as the Mambo (meaning conversation with the gods); she is the village counselor, healer, exorcist, soothsayer, spiritual advisor, and organizer of public entertainment (Barendrecht).



But of course Perez Prado will continue to be recognized as the originator. Whatever!