“…We are the descendants of the drum and the areito, the maraca and the tambor, the bohío and the barril de Bomba. Our culture is not just history—it is alive, it is evolving, and it is ours to protect and celebrate!-melanie maldonado
in Cultural Preservation & Advocacy
Professional Background and Contributions include:
Bombera and Artivist: Melanie is an accomplished bombera, intertwining her artistic talents with activism to champion cultural preservation and social justice.
Independent Scholar and Educator: With doctoral training in Performance Studies, she has contributed to the academic field through research and publications, including her work in the Centro Journal.
Cultural Organizer: Under her leadership, PROPA has organized multiple Bomba Research Conferences in Chicago and Puerto Rico, serving as platforms for cultural exchange and scholarly discourse.
Genealogist: Melanie has presented on topics such as the genealogy of Afro-Puerto Rican families, exemplified by her presentation titled “Genealogía de las Familias Cangrejeras.”
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Community Engagement, Leadership, Research:
Grant Reviewer and Task Force Member: She has served as a state-appointed grant reviewer for arts and culture in Florida and participated in the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs grants task force.
Board Memberships: Melanie was a founding board member of the Escuela de Bomba y Plena Tata Cepeda in Kissimmee and served on the Alianza Center in Orlando board, reflecting her dedication to community service and cultural education.
Publications and Research: Her research encompasses various aspects of Afro-Puerto Rican culture, including studies on La Ponchinela, Fiestas de Cruz in San Mateo de Cangrejos, La Enagua en la Bomba Puertorriqueña, and the narratives of women in Bomba. Melanie’s work has been acknowledged for its historical significance, as highlighted by organizations recognizing her contributions to cultural preservation.
Key Achievements Under MELANIE’S Leadership:
Founded the Biennial Bomba Research Conference (BRC) (2005-Present): A groundbreaking event bringing together scholars, artists, and practitioners to explore Bomba’s historical and contemporary significance.
Lugares Históricos Project (LHP): Led efforts to identify, document, and protect historical sites linked to Afro-Indigenous communities in Puerto Rico, ensuring these landmarks receive formal recognition through historical placards and public education initiatives.
Competencia de Enaguas: Developed this textile heritage event, which celebrates the history, craftsmanship, and symbolism of Puerto Rican fashion—especially the enagua, a traditional skirt with deep cultural ties to Bomba.
Africa Habla en Mí: Created this genealogy-meets-art project, helping Puerto Ricans explore their African ancestry through storytelling, DNA research, music, and dance.
Expanded Areito Series & Cultural Programming: Reinvented the Areito gatherings, originally sacred Taíno communal ceremonies, into a series of educational and performance-based events celebrating Afro-Indigenous Caribbean heritage.
Instrumental in PROPA’s inclusion in the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN): Making PROPA the first Central Florida-based organization and the first to represent Puerto Rico in this historic national network.
Cultural Consultant & Advocate: Worked on projects highlighting Puerto Rican contributions to Latin music, activism, and historical preservation, collaborating with universities, museums, and cultural institutions.
Public speaking & academic conferences: Presenting on Bomba, Taíno-African identity, and Puerto Rican resistance movements at national and international events.
Historical research & writing: Documenting the contributions of Puerto Rico’s Afro-Indigenous peoples, challenging the myth of a racially homogeneous Spanish identity, and advocating for Afro-Caribbean and Taíno cultural continuity.
The arts & performance: Ensuring that Afro-Boricua artistic traditions like Bomba and Plena remain vibrant and accessible, influencing a new generation of musicians, dancers, and educators.
Language & cultural reclamation: Raising awareness about African and Indigenous linguistic influences in Puerto Rican Spanish, ensuring these traditions are recognized and preserved.
4700 Millenia Boulevard
Suite 175
Orlando, Florida 32839
Phone: 407-583-6233