Olga Cerpa y Mestisay

Olga Cerpa y Mestisay play the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 7:30pm. FREE

Olga Cerpa y Mestisay

Olga Cerpa y Mestisay is one of the most popular bands in the Canary Islands.

Canary Islands

The Canaries are a group of Spanish islands off the west coast of Africa. After the Spanish conquest in 1402, they became the first stop on the way to the Americas.

The Spanish imposed a single-crop economy based on sugar. When more efficient sugar production in the Americas caused the Canary Island economy to crash, a large number of islanders emigrated to the Americas. Many moved to Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. They brought their music with them. It’s one of the roots of Latin folk music.

Even though they are really part of Africa, the Canary Islands remain Spanish territory along with the Mediterranean enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Jallos

Jallos is what Canarians call the things the sea throws up on Canary Island shores.

It’s also the title of the band’s latest album which blends songs from Africa and the Americas with Canarian folk music.