The town of Loíza is hosting the 6th Encuentro de Cantaoras de Bomba, a celebration of traditional Puerto Rican music and culture, on October 11th at 2:00 PM in the Carlos 'Tatá' Cirino Osorio public plaza in Medianía Alta. According to Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes, the event is an initiative of Professor Maribella Burgos and her cultural and artistic team, and will feature music by the groups Tambores Calientes and La Melaza.
The event will be dedicated to the work of Julie Laporte, a cultural manager, poet, and writer from Guayama, who is also a composer and singer of bomba music. Laporte has published her written work in various national and international anthologies and magazines, and also maintains a blog called 'Ella Milmundos’. She has been involved in the study and preservation of Afro-Puerto Rican musical roots and history, and has collaborated with various groups and artists, including José Miguel 'Ñeco' Flores and the Tradición group.
Laporte is currently a teacher of bomba history and singing at the Isabel Albizu Dávila School of Bomba and Plena in Ponce, and also directs the Colectivo Umoja project, which focuses on oral history rescue through conversations with elderly community members.