Anacaona Orchestra

Son is the most popular, important and influential Cuban music and dance genre. The son is considered the national music of Cuba. On the 1900s, it was dominated by Men. At the time, it was believed women were not capable of playing Son.

Most of the modern Cuban musical styles such as Mambo, Cha-cha-cha and Salsa were originated from the son. Although Cuban's music history is very passionate and beautiful I'm not here to talk only about that. 
The message I want to share with you today is about sisterhood and it's power to go against an entire country beliefs to accomplish a dream.


Anacaona is the name of an all-girl orchestra, founded in 1930s in Havana by Cuchito Castro and her sister. A total of 11 sisters joined the band proposing a female septet to challenge the male-dominated son music. 
In my opinion, the Anacaona sisters were very strong minded. At a time where women were considered not capable of playing this music style, they created a band and became very successful with concerts in 1938 in New York and Paris, along with films in Mexico, they rose to international fame. 

In 1987, the Castro sisters decided to retire, and the leadership of the orchestra was passed on and kept in good hands. Since then, Anacaona has been renewed with young and talented girls, graduated from different Art schools and with the required musical talent and charisma to maintain the legendary orchestra.
Eighty-one years after the first band was formed, the spirit of the original members of Anacaona is still alive.
Today the band’s leaders -sisters Georgina and Dorita Aguirre- maintain the legacy they received from the Castro sisters.

Thanks to these brave females, Cuba and the world were able to see that we women can play Son Music as good as any men. It opened the doors to show the world that women can actually play any instrument, sing any music or dance any song they want. 
I can only imagine what they have been through in life in order pursue what they loved. I can also only imagine how many people were against it by telling them to go find another career or stay home taking care of their family.


I strongly believe that they were able to succeed against all the odds because they had each other. There isn't any family bond as powerful as the one you share with your sisters. I know that for a fact. I'm very blessed to have Izi and Alix as my sisters and I know that together we can accomplish anything we want. I hope one day to have them very close to me; preferentially sharing the same roof and experiences just like we did when we were little kids.
I love you my sisters
xoxo
Ariel

References

Wikipedia

www.latinjazznet.com

The music of Caribbean and Brazil class, Rollins College