Afro-Caribbean culture of Loíza to be celebrated Sunday

Ahead of Sunday’s 10th Bomba Competition, District 37 Rep. Carmen Medina Calderón paid tribute to Loíza cultural exponents Alexis “Bolo” Osorio, Iván Rivera, Ariel Clemente and Carlos Calderón.

By The Star Staff

District 37 (Loíza, Río Grande and Canóvanas) Rep. Carmen Medina Calderón, who chairs the Eastern Region Committee in the lower chamber, recognized on Thursday the great contribution of various exponents to the culture of Loíza.

“As a proud daughter of the Municipality of Loíza, I have had the honor of recognizing, together with the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez, and several of my counterparts, the great contributions of a large group of exponents to the exquisite and comprehensive culture of Loíza,” the lawmaker said.

The tribute was paid as a prelude to the 10th Bomba Competition, which will take place this Sunday at Cueva María de la Cruz Historical Park in Loíza, and will be dedicated to honorees Alexis “Bolo” Osorio, Iván Rivera, Ariel Clemente and Carlos Calderón.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature artisans, bomba dancers, traditional music and competitions for “Best Adult and Children’s Dancer,” “Best Adult and Children’s Bomba Subidor [Lead Drummer],” “Best Adult and Children’s Requinto de Plena” and “Best Adult Black Poetry Performer.”

“Thank you, in the meantime, for keeping alive, and above all strong, our Afro-Caribbean heritage,” Medina Calderón said.