⁠Photo: In 2002, Felipe García Villamil was a master artist in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program with apprentices Ajami Smith and Nery Madrid, teaching Afro-Cuban Lucumi drumming. Photo: ACTA.

Felipe García Villamil (1931–2025)

Afro-Cuban batá

Greater Los Angeles African/African-American Latino/a/x Music

Felipe García Villamil was a master percussionist, cultural bearer, and revered elder in the Afro-Cuban Lucumí tradition. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Felipe came from a distinguished lineage of musicians and spiritual leaders, inheriting the sacred batá drums passed down through generations from his Yoruba ancestors.

A completo—a complete percussionist—Felipe’s mastery extended beyond drumming to include singing, crafting ceremonial objects, and preserving the rich traditions of Afro-Cuban spiritual and folkloric arts. He founded the ensemble Emikeke in Cuba, later reestablishing it in the U.S. after arriving during the Mariel boatlift in 1980. His artistry and leadership touched countless lives through performances, teachings, and rituals across the U.S., particularly in New York and Los Angeles.

Felipe was honored as a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2000, a testament to his lifelong dedication to cultural preservation. As a master artist in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program, he mentored Ajami Smith and Nery Madrid, guiding not only their drumming skills but also their spiritual journeys within the Lucumí faith.

Felipe’s legacy lives on in the rhythms he taught, the communities he nurtured, and the sacred traditions he safeguarded. May his spirit continue to resonate through the music, the drums, and the hearts of those he inspired.