We kick off our first episode with Sara McGuinness, musician and academic, to discuss Cuba's cultural powerhouse Son Cubano. From a colonialist past to communism via resistance, revolution and some pretty turbulent global affairs - Cuba is a Caribbean island with a complex history and a vivid and expansive culture that spans literature, dance and music. 

And at the heart of Cuba’s rich musical history is Son: a deeply syncretic tradition with roots in Spanish and African music. Following the abolition of slavery in 1886 and independence from Spain in 1898, Son slowly permeated the country’s expanding working classes and soundtracked dinners, parties and revolutions throughout the 20th century. 

Sara McGuinness is a lecturer at The School of Oriental and African Studies and the University of West London, specialising in audio production. She is a musician and is MD of several groups currently operating on the London circuit including the Congolese-Cuban ensemble Grupo Lokito and the more solely Cuban focussed Sarabanda, who we welcomed at The Wind That Shakes event at Jam In A Jar in February 2019. 

This episode was written and produced by Harriet Paintin and Will Paintin, co-produced by Sara McGuinness, edited by Will Paintin and hosted by Josh Middleton.