Don’t Change My Name “Man Dio Nukocheo”

DON’T CHANGE MY NAME is a compelling story of a girl named Florentina Zulueta, who was born in Dahomey (now Benin) in West Africa, during the 17th century. At just 15, she was one of many who were captured and transported to Cuba to be sold as a slave. Her original name was “Tolo-Ño,” given to her while she lived in a Lucumí region (now Nigeria) as a young girl. However, at the time of her capture in Dahomey, her name was later changed to “Na-Tegué.” “Na-Tegué” was sold to Julián de Zulueta y Amondo, a notorious slave owner in the Perico region of Matanzas, Cuba. After branding her flesh with a hot metal iron, Julián then claimed her as his property and forever changed the name of the young “Na-Tegué” to Florentina Zulueta.

ENSEMBLE:

Dreiser Durruthy Bombale (special guest on vocal/percussion)

Freddie Hendrix - trumpet

Sam Dillon - sax

James Burton - trombone

Peter Slavov - bass

Mark Sherman - Vibes

Yorgos Maniatis - drums

Richard Padron - guitar

Gabo Lugo - percussion

Don't Change My Name, which translated to Fon language is "Man Dio Nukocheo," represents Elio's many years of research into the Arara music of Cuba, tracing its roots to the religion and culture of Dahomey, in present day Benin, and telling the story of Florentina, an important Arara figure in Cuba and the Cuban slave rebellions.