Cuban Women in Jazz and Fusion (Fusión)

The University of Miami hosts a special evening featuring a live performance and discussion with OKAN, the award-winning Afro-Cuban jazz duo known for blending global rhythms with themes of immigration, justice, and love. The event is led by Ruthie Meadows, the Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Presidential Fellow, alongside Marysol Quevedo, associate professor of musicology at the Frost School of Music.

OKAN, named after the word for “heart” in Santería, is led by Havana-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodríguez and percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne from Santiago de Cuba. Their music incorporates Spanish, Yoruba, and Spanglish vocals, creating a sound rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions with contemporary influences.