November 02, 2025

Tumba Francesa: A Living Archive of Caribbean History and Afro-Caribbean Heritage

43 minutes

In this episode, host Wendy Aris explores Caribbean history and heritage with Professor Francesca Negro, focusing on her article "Tumba Francesa, Kinetic and Linguistic Archive of the African Diaspora." They discuss how Tumba Francesa—a vibrant dance and musical form rooted in Afro-Caribbean culture—serves as a living archive preserving collective memory and identity across the Caribbean. Tracing its origins from Haiti to Cuba, their conversation highlights the dance's structure, drumming dialogue, linguistic survival in Creole, and its UNESCO recognition. The episode also addresses the importance of safeguarding this cultural heritage and family genealogy for future generations, offering rich insights into Afro-Caribbean legacy and family history.

Bio:

Dance Consultant and Researcher in Comparative Literature and Performing arts.

I hold a Ph.D. and Post doc research background in Comparative Literature , with specific experience in Intermedia and Interart studies, which I currently teach at the University of Lisbon. I also hold a Master of Arts in Performing Arts and I am specialized in dance. My monograph on Afro-Cuban religious dances "Gods on Stage" will come out in January 2019, edited by Colibrí.

In the last years I collaborated with the project Modern Moves, studying the dynamics and interconnections of dance practices of African origin in the diaspora, focusing especially on Angolan, Brazilian and Goan dances and their socio-historical background, and analysing the influence of Contradance structure and dynamics in the development of dance forms of the African diaspora. I am associated researcher of the Centre for Comparative Studies, and Centre of Theatre Studies of the University of Lisbon, where I also teach Intercultural Communication.

Website: https://www.francescanegro.com/

Article: https://files.cdn-files-a.com/uploads/1700510/normal_66326efde73a4.pdf

Article: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.31819/9783968691404-012/html?srsltid=AfmBOopQxrn8fJRzQVfBKVdz9hc5gcIzomZt8DcPhV63HTzeOVhepJko

Connect:

Linkden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-negro-9a17525b/?originalSubdomain=pt

Books: https://www.wook.pt/autor/francesca-negro/3568105?srsltid=AfmBOoq_60mL4PkDNxoCYwjfqm65Ko7b3TqEIK1nfgIc_MP8cYrSsGQP

History Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts/

Caribbean History Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_history_podcasts/

Caribbean Podcasts https://blog.feedspot.com/caribbean_podcasts/

History Podcasts For Historians https://blog.feedspot.com/history_podcasts_for_historians/

Follow:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkshirehalleppingpress/

Morning Journal Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXMTL3NV

Genealogy Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NRHG3M3

Prayer Journal: https://a.co/d/bfSdIl0

Devotional Journal: https://a.co/d/8K3C8Hk

Support The Podcast https://ko-fi.com/disafimihistory/tip

Great Research Resource https://www.ancestorsofparadise.com/

Clothes https://effystyle.goaffpro.com/

Reservations for Barbados https://diaspora-discoveries.com/reservations

Opus Clip: https://www.opus.pro/?via=74ffcf

Theme Music "Africa" is modern ethnic track with fresh chords, African vocal, orchestra. License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

#Afro-Caribbeanculture #Afro-Caribbeanheritage #TumbaFrancesa #CaribbeanHistory #AfricanDiaspora #DanceResearch #FrancescaNegro #ComparativeLiterature #PerformingArts #CaribbeanCulture #DiasporaStudies #CulturalMemory #OralTradition #DisAFiMiHistoryPodcast #WendyAris #CaribbeanDance #IntermediaStudies #DanceAsHistory #ArchiveInMotion #AfricanRoots #LisbonUniversity

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