Kokobalé/Cocobalé: Martial Art Marries Bomba

Kokobalé is a unique Puerto Rican martial art that blends bomba music with stick-fighting and machete fencing, rooted in African and Taino traditions. Originating from enslaved Africans who adapted their warrior dances into bomba, it became both a form of self-defense and a means of cultural resistance against oppression. Though Kokobalé nearly disappeared in the 20th century, dedicated Puerto Ricans are reviving and preserving it, using social media to share its history and practice. Today, it stands as a powerful tribute to Puerto Rico’s African heritage, symbolizing resilience, tradition, and the enduring fight for freedom.

Bomba 101: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1946209/episodes/12228551
Bomba music: https://www.ctdigitalarchive.org/node/225630
Proyecto Kokobalé y Taller Tambuyé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPXBXuU3znc
https://vagabondmachado.medium.com/restoring-the-past-the-afro-boricua-art-of-kokobale-4fe99f215d1
https://miguelanthonymachado.wixsite.com/raicesprofundas/the-arts https://www.facebook.com/raicesprofundasamericas
https://www.80grados.net/el-kokobale-wakanda-y-the-woman-king/?fbclid=IwY2xjawH8YYNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbmFTvjgKdcKdhxXbh3eoSDORNlt4dg9eiRqgo-_cHFt1np3zy4cSWY9Gg_aem_lg-jwKRXXqXUgAcBzgOSyg
https://www.instagram.com/proyecto_kokobale/
https://www.defensetraininginstitute.net/guazabara
https://www.laguiacultural.com/eventos/cocobale/

CONNECT WITH US!

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/242722224736098/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082362745798
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boricuamerican/ and
https://www.instagram.com/boricuamerican_podcast/

Big thanks to Santos Cornier for composing our intro and outro music. Check out his music here: / Muchas gracias a Santos Cornier por componer nuestra música de intro and outro. Escuche su musica aqui:

https://www.reverbnation.com/santoscornier?fbclid=IwAR1_flS4Dy8i9t6JFhrCkzW220URLKJMVPfndmi0wl7idlA82ECx6Q-wW2Q

Thanks also to the following sites for music and sound effects:
https://freepd.com/
https://pixabay.com/
https://freesound.org/
https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/