Afro-Cuban

[ af-roh-kyoo-buhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Black people of Cuban origin and African ancestry:

   an Afro-Cuban movie director.

2. combining elements of Black African culture with those of Cuban culture:

   Afro-Cuban religion.

noun

1. a Black person of Cuban origin and African ancestry:

   an engineering scholarship for Afro-Cubans.

2. percussive Latin music originating in Cuba and showing strong African rhythmic influence:

   a distinctive blend of jazz, Afro-Cuban, and hip-hop.

Afro-Cuban

adjective

1. of or relating to a type of jazz influenced by Cuban variants of African rhythms Compare Cu-bop

Word History and Origins

Origin of Afro-Cuban¹

First recorded in 1890–95; Afro- ( def ) + Cuban ( def )

Example Sentences

The score subtly shifts from zydeco to rara — the tones transitioning from that of a backwoods party to a street parade — before leading to an Afro-Cuban finale that builds to the sing-along “Dig a Little Deeper.”

From Los Angeles Times

Things get weirder and more delightful with a bobcat and bear band, where instruments are fashioned out of logs and vegetation, and later some Afro-Cuban frogs jamming out with acorns.

From Los Angeles Times

The man is Carlos Martiel, an Afro-Cuban performance artist known for putting his body through grueling, painful trials while audiences watch.

From New York Times

Santeria devotees dance and slap drums in a museum filled with statues, paying homage to their Afro-Cuban deities.

From Seattle Times

Experts estimate that as many, or more, also follow Afro-Cuban traditions such as Santeria that intermingle with Catholicism.

From Seattle Times