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Rhythm serves both gods and lovers in the music of Los Munequitos de Matanzas, the venerable Cuban group that returned to New York City last week for the first time since 2002 with concerts at Symphony Space. Presented by the World Music Institute, the three shows were part of the citywide Si Cuba! festival. The 15 drummers, singers and dancers of Los Munequitos, which was formed in 1952 by dockworkers in the city of Matanzas, maintain deep Afro-Cuban traditions of incantation and party music. The religious customs, brought by slaves, still hold the languages and movements of their African origins; the secular ones, rumbas that are at the root of salsa and other Latin pop, are syncretically Afro-Cuban. In the hands of Los Munequitos these traditions are as kinetic as any music in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OMARA PORTUONDO ''Gracias'' [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents information about the Cuban government agency Cuban Rap Agency formed to regulate rap music in the country. Susana García Amaros, a specialist in the writings of Afro-Cubans, is heading the agency. The agency was supposed to control young people who rap around the country. Herself fond of the rap music, Amaros helped the agency in changing its course. Now the agency co-sponsors an annual hip-hop music. It also promotes rappers and helps them in producing albums.

Features popular music in Cuba. Street music performances; Availability of sound recordings; Features of the Cuban musical culture.

Focuses on the recording of `Buena Vista Social Club.' Popularity of the recording in the United States as of July 1998; Participation of older Cuban musicians in the Havana, Cuba, project; US musician Ry Cooder's role; Factors contributing to the record's fame; Comments from Nonesuch Records' David Bither; Cooder's relationship to Cuban music.