“I Am Because We Are, We Are Because They Were."

UBUNTU

African Diasporic Dance Drum & Wellness Festival

December 19-21, 2025

3 days of Dance, Drum, Culture, Healing, and Community in Loíza, Canóvanas & Piñones.

✓ Sponsors Local Youth of Loíza
✓ Supports Moore Town, Jamaica (Hurricane Melissa Relief)
✓ Master Teachers from Senegal • PR • Los Angeles

WHY UBUNTU

A Festival With Soul

Where drum, dance, history, and community move as one.

A Festival With Impact

Every Full Pass sponsors a Loíza youth + half proceeds go to hurricane relief in Moore Town, Jamaica.

A Festival With Lineage

Featuring master artists carrying ancestral traditions across the diaspora.

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

FRIDAY DEC 19 — Loíza

10 am - 4pm Tour of the Historical, AfroBoricua town of Loíza
7pm Welcome Ceremony & Community Gathering


SATURDAY DEC 20 — La Central, Canóvanas

9:30-10:15 am - AfroFusion Dance & Wellness with Aminah and SanArte

11- 12:30 pm - AfroCuban & Afro Brazilian Basics w/ focus on Orisha movement of Oshun and Oya - 

Kara Mack 

12:30- 1pm Lunch 

1-2:15 pm - West African drum masterclass with Magatte Fall 

2:30-3:45 pm - Bomba history, wellness & Movement with SanArte  

4-5:15 pm - West African Fusion with AfroBeat - with Kosi Williams 

Dinner break 

7- 8:15 - Sabar  with Kara Mack 

8:30- 9:15- Decolonize the Pelvis- Community Wellness and Movement session with

Aminah Jackson 

9:15-10:30 - Drum circle exchange with Magatte and Bomberos 


SUNDAY DEC 21 — Casa Afro, Piñones

9:30-10:45 - Bomba wellness with SanArte 

11-1pm - 'All Things Samba!' with Kara Mack 

Lunch 

1:30- 2:45 - Master Drum class with Magatte Fall 

3-4:15- Jazz Dance Roots with Kara Mack 

4:30-5:15- Decolonize the Pelvis- community wellness w/ Afro Caribbean Fusion movement 

Kara Mack & Aminah Jackson

Dinner 

Showcase - 8pm 

CLOSING CHINCHORREO TO LA FACTORÍA FOR THE NIGHT OWLS

MEET THE MASTERS

KARA MACK

World-renowned dancer, choreographer, culture-bearer.

@AfricanInAmerica @TheeKaraMack

MAGATTE FALL

3x Grammy-winning master drummer from the Black Panther movie score. Cultural historian. Global performer.

@Magatte_Fall_Official

SANARTE- BOMBA WELLNESS

Borikén healers, educators, and embodiment of Bomba as medicine.

@SanArte_Cultura

KOSI WILLIAMS

Traditional + modern movement. Pure energy, precision, and ancestral storytelling through dance

@KosiWilliamsss

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Your Ticket Changes Lives

When Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica, a beloved community member from Moore Town, Portland—who cared for me and prepared my mind and spirit before hosting my 2024 “Decolonize the Pelvis” retreat—remains without water, consistent power, and supplies.

Half of all festival proceeds will go directly to this community for relief and rebuilding.

And here at home:

Every Full Festival Pass sponsors a Loíza youth to attend the entire festival for FREE.

Your presence = healing, unity, legacy.

CLASS TICKETS

Saturday Pass — $250

CYBER MONDAY DEAL: $170
Enjoy up to 7 workshops and vendors at La Central.

Late evening Drum Circle

Sunday Pass — $250

CYBER MONDAY DEAL: $170
Full day of workshops at Casa Afro.

Full Festival Pass — $522

CYBER MONDAY DEAL: $333

BEST VALUE: Friday Welcome + ALL classes + priority showcase seating + Chinchorreo bus + sponsors a youth + supports Jamaica relief.

LOCATIONS

Loíza
Tour + Welcome Ceremony at
Puente Herrera

La Central — Canóvanas
Historic sugarcane grounds where early Bomba took root.

Casa Afro — Piñones
Living heart of AfroPuerto Rican culture.

Join our Newsletter below

“Yo Soy Porque Nosotros Somos. Nosotros Somos Porque Ellos Fueron."

MEET THE ORGANIZER

Aminah Jackson

@MintahTumbáo

Aminah Jackson is an African American and Haitian Mexican American dancer, educator, and healing arts practitioner born in Los Angeles and raised between L.A. and Tucson, AZ. She holds a B.A. in African Studies with a Spanish Minor from Howard University, where her academic and cultural foundation deeply shaped her path.

Trained at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, The Ailey School Summer Program, and Howard University, Aminah’s movement background spans traditional West African, Afro-Latin, Mexican Folklórico, jazz, ballet, tap, Flamenco, musical theatre, Hip-Hop, and the Horton, Dunham, and Graham techniques. She was a two-time dance intern with Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE Dance Company and has taught Latin Social Dance at USC, LMU, and UCLA.

Over the last decade, her focus has deepened in Afro-Latin and traditional forms including Salsa, Yoruba/Orisha, and Cuban Casino—dancing with the Afro-Cuban ensemble Ocandeniye and assisting world champion Jhesus Aponte. She remains a lifelong student of Sabar, Doudoumba, Lamba, Balanta, Haitian Yanvalou, and Caribbean dances like Merengue and Bachata.

Aminah has facilitated masterclasses in 10+ retreat workshops in Puerto Rico and Dominica, including SOCANOMICS by Selena Watkins and Niambi Sala’s Sacred Slumber Party (OSHUN). As founder of OSUN-OLOGY Retreats—Afro-Sensuality Healing Retreat (Puerto Rico) and Decolonize the Pelvis Retreat (Jamaica)—she centers the liberation of Black and Brown women through somatic healing, energy work, EFT, mirror work, and breath work.

She offers private coaching, group programs, online courses, and global retreats designed to decolonize the body and restore the sacred.

FAQ

Who is Ubuntu for?

Ubuntu is for everyone — community members of all ages, genders, and backgrounds who are ready to reconnect to the healing power of rhythm, movement, and ancestry. No dance or drumming experience is required. All you need is an open heart and a willingness to grow, heal, and build community through the spirit of the African diaspora.

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Do I need to be a dancer or drummer to participate?

Not at all. Ubuntu is designed for beginners, seasoned artists, and everyone in between. Each class is an experience — combining movement, storytelling, mindfulness, and music in a way that meets you where you are. You’ll move, learn, and heal in community, at your own pace.

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Where is Ubuntu held and why Loíza, Puerto Rico?

Loíza is the soul of Afro-Boricua culture — a historic maroon community where African and Taíno descendants lived free. Though rich in tradition, Loíza remains one of Puerto Rico’s most under-resourced areas. Ubuntu was created to bridge Loíza’s local community with global Afro-diasporic artists, reconnecting the roots of Bomba to its West African foundation and opening new doors for cultural and economic opportunity.

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What is the cost to attend Ubuntu, and are there payment options?

Your Ubuntu Festival Full Pass of $522 includes access to the welcome party, all workshops, wellness sessions, cultural tours, and the closing community showcase over the 3-day experience.

We believe healing and heritage should be accessible to all. That’s why we offer:

💫 Flexible Payment Plans – Easy installment options are available at checkout through Klarna when you register online.
👥 Group Discounts – Save when you travel and register together! Groups of 3 or more receive a special discounted rate.
🎓 Student Rates – Available for all currently enrolled students (including college and higher education).

For group or student pricing, please contact:
📞 310-621-9070
📧 [email protected]

Your participation directly supports our mission to provide youth scholarships for Loíza students and to fairly compensate master artists and cultural educators from across the diaspora.

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What can I expect during the 3-day experience?

Expect transformation. Over three days, you’ll experience 15+ hours of workshops in dance, drumming, and mindfulness — from traditional West African to Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, and Bomba. Each day includes grounding sessions, history panels, cultural tours, and a final community showcase by the sea. Expect a homecoming for your body, mind, and spirit.

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How do donations or ticket purchases support the community?

Every contribution has impact. Each "FULL PASS" registration sponsors a local youth of Loíza to attend the full festival as well. Another portion of proceeds supports the Lind Corridor — the nonprofit of renowned Afro-Boricua artist Samuel Lind. Your participation helps ensure that master teachers receive fair pay and that Loíza’s next generation has access to world-class cultural education.

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How do I join or stay connected?

Visit PR.MintahTumbao.com to register or join the Ubuntu Inner Circle for early access, travel tips, and updates.
Follow @MintahTumbao and for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes footage, and cultural education leading up to the festival.
Whether you attend, donate, or share the mission — you’re part of this ancestral homecoming.

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Where should I fly into and where do I stay?

The nearest airport is San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) — just 20–25 minutes from Loíza. We encourage travelers to stay in our Festival Housing located in Loíza, for a beautiful and authentic local experience.

Learn more by clicking the button below.

For general housing recommendations outside of our festival housing, we recommend Airbnbs in the following areas:

Loíza – for those who want to stay immersed in the culture and community energy.

Canóvanas – a short drive inland, peaceful and convenient.

Carolina – close to the airport and beaches, perfect balance of comfort and proximity.

Río Grande – ideal for groups who want resort-style lodging near El Yunque and the coast.

Travel Tip: Save by coming as a group! Enjoy discounted group rates for 3 or more attendees, or student rates for anyone currently enrolled in school or higher education.
To learn more, contact us directly at 📞 310-621-9070 or 📧 [email protected].

CONTACT US

1-310-621-9070

I am because We are. We are because They were.

"Yo soy porque nosotros somos. Nosotros somos porque ellos fueron.