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Documentary chronicles Philly's rumba scene from the civil rights era to present
['Kristin Hunt', 'Phillyvoice Staff']
PhillyVoice
Over half a century ago, a group of Black men living in Philadelphia picked up the claves and conga drums.
They continued drumming through the civil rights and Pan-African eras, the first Odunde Festival and MOVE bombing, and are now celebrated rumberos with standing Friday sessions in Germantown.
Their stories, and those of the wider rumba community in Philadelphia, are captured in the new documentary short "Philly Rumba."
The documentary, which premiered Thursday at the BlackStar Film Festival, follows some of the stewards of their scene.
"Philly Rumba" will continue streaming virtually through BlackStar during the festival's run, but Beatriz and Cisneros are in the middle of planning additional local screenings.