Ooooh! Just discovered this exciting podcast episode of NPR Music by Félix Contreras. The episode features music by X Alfonso (shown in photo), Cimafunk, Ibeyi, Orquesta Akokán, and OKAN. Listen to Contreras’s interesting introduction and commentary for each track at NPR Music.
Description (NPR Music): “We’re living in a moment when the geopolitical intersects with the personal in a profound way. The relationship between the United States and Cuba is once again in the news, and it happens at a time when there are a handful of new releases from Cuban artists on the island and around the world. The sounds of the albums are vastly different, but they all draw from the same deep well of inspiration that has always fueled Cuban music: a deep love for the intersection of cultures. The music we share this week is a reminder of the very real lives of the people caught in the middle of a situation with an uncertain outcome. It is joyous, contemplative, rhythmically sophisticated and lyrically profound. Just like all Cuban music.”
Artists & songs featured in this episode:
- OKAN, “Ajé (Owo Nla Nla)”
- Ibeyi, “Aset”
- Orquesta Akokán, “No Me Voy”
- Cimafunk, “Cocinarte”
- X Alfonso, “Unicornio”
[This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.]
For original post, see https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5860737/alt-latino-the-sounds-of-cuban-resilience
[Photo of X Alfonso (by TITINA) from https://www.npr.org/2026/06/17/nx-s1-5860737/alt-latino-the-sounds-of-cuban-resilience.]
Ooooh! Just discovered this exciting podcast episode of NPR Music by Félix Contreras. The episode features music by X Alfonso (shown in photo), Cimafunk, Ibeyi, Orquesta Akokán, and OKAN. Listen to Contreras’s interesting introduction and commentary for each track at NPR Music. Description (NPR Music): “We’re living in a moment when the geopolitical intersects with
