About Afrekete inc.

Afrekete Inc. is Australia’s number one authentic Cuban cultural community organisation. Afrekete is unique in promoting authentic Cuban culture throughout Queensland via dance, music, art, storytelling and folklore in its annual events, bringing together Australia’s preeminent Cuban dance, music and culture experts.

Our Core members are renowned professional Cuban dance and music artists who love sharing their tremendous knowledge and enthusiasm, and are highly engaging and supportive of people from all around Australia, including from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to exchange culture at their events.

Through these events, audiences are taken on an exhilarating journey exploring the African roots of Cuban rhythm though to modern Salsa.

Our Beginnings

Afrekete started in Australia in 2012 as a dance and music camp in Sawtell, south Coffs Harbour, on Gumbaynggirr country on NSW’s Mid-North Coast.

It was created by three pre-eminent Cuban dance artists – Christina Monneron, Adrian Medina and Israel Ortiz.

It has evolved from a dance camp to a cultural organisation bringing together all the master Cuban artists from around Australia for them to teach and educate anyone who is interested in the music, dance, and culture of Cuba from its Afro Cuban roots to modern day interpretations.

Afrekete is now an Incorporated Association in Queensland Australia since November 2022, and is also affiliated with the Cultural Association of Cuban Heritage & Roots in NSW.

Why we chose the word Afrekete

Afrekete is the word for the Ocean Mother energy of the Arara Tradition in Africa, from the Dahomey region in present-day Benin.

Afrekete in Arara/ Dahomey is also the word for Yemaya (Yemoja) in the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, Iemanja of Brazil & Uruguay, Mamiwata of many African Nations.

The cultural and spiritual lineage to Cuba can be directly traced from these African Traditions, where those traditions travelled to Cuba via the transatlantic slave trade, and then metamorphosed into Afro-Cuban traditions. Afro-Cuban became the cauldron of all the later derivatives of Song and Music, including Rumba, Son, and Salsa.

Much later on, those Afro-Cuban Traditions were introduced into Australia by Cuban migrants and refugees, and kept alive by Australians who visited Cuba who also brought with them Afro-Cuban artefacts and music, dance and philosophy.

Our Objectives

To foster authentic Cuban Dance, Music & Cultural Experiences via our events (Afrekete Festival)

To educate on Afro-Cuban traditions & history (‘I Am Ashe’)

To create easy access to Cuban master teachers in different communities, especially in regional areas

To explore the connection between Afro-Cuban (Yoruba) philosophy and nature (‘Who Is Nature’)

To give cultural context to the music and movement of Cuba (‘Cuba La Clave’)

Our Values

Our core values are: Connection; Respect; Diversity; Intercultural sharing; Deep listening; Creating community

Our Vision

The leading organisation  connecting Australians to authentic Afro-Cuban dance, music, art, culture & philosophy

Our Mission

• To Connect to Nature
• To Connect to Self
• To Connect to Community