Sur la Bay is one of many Black History Month activities happening at New College until Mar. 1—showcasing work done by students of the Patá Independent Study Project (ISP) as well as performances from the local band TREEDOMM. With help from New Music New College (NMNC) and the Humanities division, Sur la Bay graced the College Hall Bayfront property on Feb. 4 with the sounds of drums and enticing vocals from all parties involved. 

The show began with a speech from Associate Professor of Sociology Queen Zabriskie, explaining what the purpose of Sur la Bay was and its meaning within Black History Month. She then introduced Assistant Professor of Caribbean/Latin American Studies and Music Hugo Viera-Vargas, who sponsored and taught the Afro Caribbean drum ISP.

“As an Afro Caribbean woman, specifically from the Dominican Republic, it was something that instantly connected to me,” third-year and lead vocalist Magdelyn Veras explained. “Drums are a very big part of Afro Caribbean styles and rhythms so I wanted to see it from a player’s perspective.”

Viera-Vargas laid a foundation for the show, explaining how the drums are utilized in more festive manners—at parties and celebrations—emphasizing that the show was a celebration, but also a reminder of longstanding issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Students in the ISP then opened the performance with “Canción Sin Miedo” (Song Without Fear) originally by Mexican artist Vivir Quintana and adapted into bomba, a Puerto Rican style of song and dance. The song details the struggles of femicide and gender-based violence that hundreds of thousands fall victim to every year in Latin America, speaking their names and calling for justice.

Each performer wore a purple bandana on their person—a widely used symbol of the movement in Latin America—throughout the event. Their passion was felt through the banging of the drums as well as the vocals that accompanied them.

The Catalyst would like to leave readers the last verse—and its translation—of Canción Sin Miedo as found on the program passed out at the event:

Y retiemblen sus centros la tierra (And the center of the Earth shall tremble)

Al sonoro rugir del amor (At the sisterly roar of love)

Y retiemblen sus centros la tierra (And the center of the Earth shall tremble)

Al sonoro rugir del tambor (To the sonorous roar of the drum)