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Awo Orumila ‘El Denny’ was born in 1976 in Miami, Florida, where he was raised by Cuban parents who came to the United States in1967. El Denny grew up in a religious family and was initiated to Ocha when he was four years old. He explains that the first time he saw batá drumming in a tambor he knew he would become a ritual oricha musician. He began working for Juan ‘El Negro’ Raymat when he was just nine years old and was sworn to Añá in Miami in 1987 when he was eleven. He became a babalawo (Ifá priest) in 1991 and received his first set of consecrated drums in 1999. He is still working as a priest of Ifá and a ritual musician in South Florida.
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In this clip El Denny talks about his first experience at a tambor with Juan Raymat. He recounts the initial impact and subsequent influence Raymat had on his life. He goes on to talk about his connection to Miguel Febles through his Ifá initiation, the key ritual musicians who have influenced him and how he sees the Miami scene now.
Interview by Vicky Jassey with David Pattman, Miami: 25th March 2017 |
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A section of the oru seco with El Denny, Skip Burney and David Pattman playing for El Denny's Ifá birthday: 20th March 2017 (Filmed by Vicky Jassey)
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A section of the oru cantado with El Denny, Skip Burney and David Pattman playing for El Denny's Ifá birthday: 20th March 2017 (Filmed by Vicky Jassey)
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