Afro-Cuban Traditional Music and Transculturation

By Nolan Warden

Book Description

This groundbreaking exploration reveals how spiritual communities create entirely new musical traditions by weaving together diverse religious threads. Nolan Warden takes readers into the heart of cajón pa` los muertos, a spirit-possession ceremony that has emerged in Cuba over recent decades, demonstrating how sacred music becomes a living bridge between worlds.

Through the lens of Grupo Cuero y Cajón, this study illuminates the delicate balance between honoring ancient wisdom and embracing creative innovation. The musicians featured here serve as spiritual architects, crafting songs and rhythms that unite influences from Santeria, Palo, Espiritismo, and Catholicism into a cohesive ceremonial experience. Their work reveals how religious practice itself evolves through musical expression.

For those drawn to understanding how spiritual traditions adapt and flourish, this book offers rare insight into the creative process behind sacred music. Warden documents not only the specific songs and drum patterns used in these ceremonies but also the deeper cultural forces that shape religious innovation. This examination of transculturation shows how communities preserve their spiritual heritage while simultaneously birthing new forms of sacred expression.

As the first comprehensive study of cajón ceremonies in any language, this work opens a window into a vibrant spiritual practice where music serves as both vessel and voice for connecting with the divine.