[Mus-undergrad-info] Bayz Music Series, Tomorrow, 4/8: MAYEYA, “African Diaspora Rhythms in Latin America: An Interactive Concert Lecture”

[Amy Skjerseth]

*2025–2026 Florence Bayz Music Series*
*African Diaspora Rhythms in Latin America: *
*An Interactive Concert Lecture*
 MAYEYA
April 8, 12–12:50pm, ARTS 157
[image: image.jpeg]

*In this immersive concert-lecture, Mayeya will guide you through rhythms
of the African diaspora in Latin America, blending tradition with
contemporary expression. The journey begins with an a capella piece for
Eleggua, where intricate body percussion, polyrhythms, and contemporary
harmonies lay the foundation for exploring openings and pathways. As the
performance unfolds, we move into the energetic bembé for Oyá, capturing
the dynamic essence of winds and change, and inviting the audience to
interact with the rhythms. The sweetness of Oshún comes alive in a gentle
iyása piece, weaving together Yoruba and Iyesá traditions and engaging the
audience in a call-and-response. As we dedicate a performance to Yemayá,
we’ll delve into nurturing rhythms and polyrhythmic patterns that start
very slow and get turbulent as the piece goes on. The concert culminates in
a final piece for Eleggua, returning with a shekere piece and reflecting on
cycles and continuity. Throughout the performance, the audience will be
invited into meaningful discussions, exploring the deep cultural and social
significance of these rhythms.*


Bio:
This sisterhood of artists blends Latin American folklore with ancestral
knowledge, creating space for women’s voices in traditions long dominated
by men. Through rhythm, ritual, and celebration, they turn every
performance into resistance and community. Rooted in the rhythms of the
African diaspora, MAYEYA blends folklore from Latinoamérica with the voice
of feminine power led by Diana Andrea Soto Teixeira – a percussionist and
vocalist inspired by Latin American folklore and the music of the African
diaspora. Through drumming and song, she reconnects with her ancestral
roots while inviting audiences into rich, rhythm-driven new worlds grounded
in tradition. Her work explores the borderlines of identity—between
Indigenous, Afro-Peruvian, and European lineages—using traditional genres
and cultural practices to build a contemporary artistic voice. She is the
daughter of renowned Peruvian composer and artivist Andrés Soto, whose
musical legacy continues to deeply shape her work.

Spread the word to your students and friends; Bayz series events are free
and open to the public. For more information about this event and the event
series, please visit
https://events.ucr.edu/event/MAYEYA?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=UC+Riverside
.

See you tomorrow!
Amy (Bayz series coordinator)
*Dr. Amy Skjerseth* (*she/her*)
Assistant Professor of Popular Music

Book out September 2026: *Preprogrammed: How Electronic Presets Changed
Music and Media <https://www.ucpress.edu/books/preprogrammed/paper>*

PI, "Defying Defaults in Technology and Culture
<https://uchri.org/awards/defying-defaults-in-technology-and-culture/>,"
UCHRI Multicampus Research Working Group
University of California, Riverside

*I sometimes send emails outside of traditional working hours, but I do not
expect a response outside of your own.*
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.ucr.edu/pipermail/mus-undergrad-info/attachments/20260407/afc50731/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.jpeg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 467900 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://lists.ucr.edu/pipermail/mus-undergrad-info/attachments/20260407/afc50731/attachment-0001.jpeg>