La Voz de Mis Ancestros

Olukoso

Olufina lo dide

Orumila Agbaniregun

Erick Barberia, Cuban dancer, singer and percussionist, graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Artes (ENA) in Habana, Cuba. He began his professional career in the Artistic Community Company, Korimakao as a dancer, drummer and actor. subsequently, he became a master teacher of dancing, singing and Afro-Cuban percussion in both the ENA and the Escuela Internacional de las Artes (CENCEA) in Havana, Cuba.

Expressive dancing, melodious vocals and great improvisational skills make this artist a unique performer. Erick is influenced by his roots and has been inevitably inspired by the contagious traditions of carnivals, festivals and rumba in the street. But more than this, Erick has been influenced by his humble family. His father Luis Barberia, current singer of the famous orchestra Jorrin Creators of Rhythm Cha Cha Cha is one of his biggest inspirations.

Here in the U.S. Erick Barberia has had the pleasure of playing and recording music with many musical greats. El gran Sonero Fito Reinoso y su Ritmo y Harmonia (CD- Comunicacion), Master guitarist Freddy Clarke and his Wobbly World (CD- Wobbly World), Bass Player Victor Little (CD- Inner Portrait), Master Percussionist John Santos (CD- La Guerra No), Latin Jazz Master Art Jackson (CD- Under Ground Master Piece), P23, Former percussionist of the group Afrocuban de Matanzas Sandy Perez (CD- De aqui A Matanzas), master flautist John Calloway, Lazaro Pedroso (Ogun Tola) scholar of the song and elder of the Yoruba-Lukumí tradition in Havana Cuba (CD Obegdi and CD Egun). In 2006, with his brother Dreiser Durruthy, Erick had the honor to record, in Cuba, with the great Chucho Valdes, creator of Irakere and again with Chucho’s sister, Mayra Caridad Valdes (CD- Obatala produced by Colibri Records).

In his spiritual practice, Erick is crowned Omo Eleggua, Awo Orunmila, and Olubata. He comes from the Afro-Cuban Yoruba family of the highly respected and wise Babalawo Papo Angarica Oshelogbe (Awo Ifanire), son of the late Chief Nicolas Valentín Angarica (Oba Tola). Erick is Omo Ala Aña, (Son of the Drums secrets) consecrated in the tambor Bata Fundamento (Aña Bi) on one of the oldest set of Tambores Bata (Bata drums) that exists today in Cuba.

Erick currently lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Besides performing, Erick's Afro-Cuban Salsa class takes dancers on a journey exploring Cuban dance from its diverse roots of Son, Rumba and its heavy African influences, all the way to its present day incarnation of Timba. Erick opens the door to understanding the diverse movements of Cuban popular rhythms pushing dancers and drummers to the next level of expression. He teaches classes in local dance studios, gives private classes, and teaches workshops in middle schools, high schools and universities.

Erick Barberia - Eshuniwe

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