Afro Dominicano is a Dominican alternative band that plays a Caribbean sancocho stew of merengue, méringue, bachata, reggae, calypso, rock, funk, and more. Dominicans are some of the most fun Caribbeans. Go see Afro Dominicano and you’ll understand.
Afro Dominicano in New York City
Joe’s Pub
Afro Dominicano plays Dominican alternative at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NoHo, Manhattan; on Friday, February 28, 2025 at 9:30pm. 🇩🇴
House of Yes
Afro Dominicano plays Dominican alternative for DJ Ultra Violet’s Bodega Jams dance party at House of Yes in Bushwick, Brooklyn; on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 4pm. 🇩🇴
Flushing Town Hall
Afro Dominicano plays Dominican alternative, Maraca Bruja plays Colombian Caribbean cumbia with the Indigenous gaita flute, and they play together at the Flushing Town Hall; in Flushing, Queens; on Saturday, October 19, 2024, with a dance lesson at 7pm and concert at 8pm. $25. 🇩🇴 🇨🇴
New York City Venues
- Flushing Town Hall in Flushing Queens
- House of Yes in Bushwick, Brooklyn
- Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in NoHo, Manhattan
Afro Dominicano
Some people think the Dominican Republic is merengue, bachata, beaches, rum and cigars; but it’s a lot more. The Caribbean is incredibly diverse and Afro Dominicano is all that.
Their Dominican frame gives up traditional merengue perico ripiao, palo (sacred music from the barrios), merengue de orquesta, and bachata. But like the RD, they mix it up with Jamaican reggae, Cuban bembé (another sacred music), Trinidadian calypso, Brazilian samba, American rock and funk, and other African Diasporic rhythms.
And of course, though many Dominicans deny it, most of us have Haitian heritage too. It’s the call of the caña (sugar cane). Afro Dominicano gets it with pride. We are not just “KloK,” we are also “sak pase.”
Afro Dominicano is unusual because there isn’t much rock in the Dominican Republic. But these guys rock out. And someone in the band speaks Dominican Spanish with a Kreyol accent. The whole package is bien chévere (very cool).
No matter your heritage or where you are from, for sure your butt is going to move. Just let it go and see what happens. Bring your dance shoes and joy, because that is Afro Dominicano!
Albums
- “Komparengue” (2024) represents the fusion of Haitian kompa and Dominican merengue. Kompa is Haitian jazz which becomes zouk in Guadeloupe and Martiníque and lambada in Brazil. We think American jazz is actually Haitian because half of New Orleans in 1810 was Haitian Diaspora. Dominican merengue is actually derived from Haitian méringue which was slower and guitar based, more like bachata in 2/2 time. Merengue is faster and added the accordion brought by German migrants in the time of coffee. We are mixes of each other.
- “Kiskeya Libre” (2023). Quisqueya is the Indigenous Taíno name for the side of the island now called the Dominican Republic. The other side is Ayiti, which the Americans call Haiti. The Spanish call the island Hispaniola, but they stole what they could and left.
- “Just the Two of Us” (2022)
- “Afro Dominicano Live” (2020)
- “Letters to Zoë” (2019)
Tours
- Komparengue Tour (2024)
- Kiskeya Libre Tour (2023)
Information
X @afro_dominicano
Facebook @AfroDominicano
Instagram @afrodominicano
YouTube @afrodominicano