‘It feels so much like home’: 6 L.A. parties that’ll take you to another part of the world

'It feels so much like home': 6 L.A. parties that'll take you to another part of the world 1

As I delve into the vibrant world of these events that celebrate the richness of Afro-Caribbean culture and African music, my heart swells with admiration for individuals like Cooper and Kwabena Anfo who are not just keeping these traditions alive but also sharing them with a wider audience.

At the Echo in Echo Park, the hit song “Singamo” by a Latin trap artist fills the air, prompting over 50 people to join in the chorus and dance on stage. Dina Ben-Nissan and Courtney Hollinquest alternate playing tracks from various international artists as flags of countries like Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Mexico spin on a screen behind them. Meanwhile, La Goony Chonga, a Cuban American rapper and singer from Miami, is capturing moments with fans by the stage sidelines, snapping selfies.

As a passionate film enthusiast of rhythm and beats, I’ve been fortunate enough to immerse myself in the pulsating energy that is ¡BAILE! – a global music dance extravaganza that’s been enlivening Los Angeles since 2022. Coined after the lively Spanish colloquialism for dancing, this gathering celebrates the vibrant sounds of Latin America and South America, but doesn’t shy away from exploring musical genres from other corners of the world, such as soca and Gqom, which trace their roots back to South Africa. Each night at ¡BAILE! is a sensory journey that takes me on an exhilarating trip around the globe, all within the confines of one electrifying venue.

'It feels so much like home': 6 L.A. parties that'll take you to another part of the world

As a film enthusiast with a rich cultural background that encompasses Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Black heritage, I’ve never found a place where I could effortlessly blend all the musical elements that resonate deeply within me. It’s usually a choice between Latin beats or hip-hop rhythms. The concept behind [“¡BAILE!”] was born out of this need to establish a platform where I can share the diverse club sounds I’ve encountered during my travels, and celebrate the music that truly embodies who I am.

The party is one of several in L.A. that transports attendees to other countries — sans a passport. On any given night, Angelenos can hear sounds spanning from as far as Southeast Asia to Mexico. Adding to the experience are the cultural details — the food, the decor, the attire. For example, you can enjoy sambusa and other traditional Ethiopian bites at “Motherland Sounds.” At an Afro Caribbean party known as “Carnival Tabanca,” some attendees wear modern and traditional Carnival costumes.

In the past few years, these types of events have gained a lot of attention because genres that were once considered niche, such as Afrobeats from West Africa, have grown in popularity and entered the mainstream.

According to Kwabena Anfo, a Ghanaian DJ and producer known as Blaq Pages who runs a traveling party called “Afrobeats to the World”, it was once the case that knowing about something meant you were already familiar with it. However, with the advent of social media, one can easily discover and connect with the specific communities they’re interested in, as well as find the music that appeals to them.

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Drink micheladas and hear a live banda at First Fridays

When: Every first Friday of the month
Where: The Beehive in South Central

Drawing inspiration from Oaxaca’s annual Guelaguetza festival, Fernando Lopez, one of the owners at I Love Micheladas, began hosting cumbia parties at breweries across Los Angeles. After a hiatus, Lopez and his sisters decided to revive these events in 2023, naming them “First Fridays.” This lively gathering boasts two stages – one for live music and another for DJs spinning tracks ranging from West Coast hip-hop to reggaeton. The event takes place at the Beehive in South Central, offering a mechanical bull ride, tattoo station, food trucks, and bars serving I Love Micheladas’ signature drinks. To keep the energy high, they even have a mascot resembling a michelada roaming the venue.

Guests arrive at the gathering, adorned with their most stylish cowboy hats and boots, eager to dance. When La Banda Mexicana’s “La Bota” is played by DJ Que Madre, a tradition began at the party, they lift their hats and boots in the air. This event caters to those 21 years old and above, but people of various backgrounds frequently attend. It draws a predominantly Mexican crowd, yet it’s not uncommon to see attendees from different cultures as well.

Lopez, who jointly owns Guelaguetza in Koreatown, which his parents established in 1994, describes the experience of attending “First Fridays” as being akin to stepping into a Mexican pueblo or small town. He explains that it’s like recalling the sensation of attending a quinceañera and dozing off on multiple chairs, implying a familiar and relaxed atmosphere. He further notes that these events facilitate a connection with one’s roots and provide an opportunity for people to celebrate their identity.

Experience East African culture at Motherland Sounds

When: Every other Wednesday
Where: Emma Habesha Restaurant in Inglewood

For quite some time after attending African dance events in L.A., Addis Daniel observed that the clubs typically played a predominantly Western or Southern African musical style. He mentioned, “I rarely come across music from East and North Africa at these clubs.” Daniel, an Ethiopian graphic designer and event producer, added, “It’s unusual unless it’s a cultural-specific event.”

In June 2023, Daniel along with Miriam Haregot, Tamé Bezabeh, Yonas Michael, and Denkinesh Argaw decided to address a void in Los Angeles’ nightlife scene by launching an event called “Motherland Sounds.” This event aims to showcase music from the African continent as seen through their unique East African perspective.

Every other week, a vibrant gathering takes place in the outdoor seating area of Emma Habesha, a family-run Ethiopian eatery situated in Inglewood. This unique restaurant boasts a lively mural depicting African flags on one of its walls. The event’s hosts provide refreshing glasses of tej (a traditional Ethiopian honey wine) and offer delicious platters featuring well-loved Ethiopian dishes such as tibbs (beef sautéed in onions) and doro wot (chicken-and-egg stew), all served communally. The music lineup is diverse, featuring a blend of Afro rock, Sudanese jazz, Highlife, Afrobeats, Ethio-jazz, as well as funky hip-hop and R&B remixes. In August, the event “Motherland Sounds” paid tribute to the life and influence of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who had Eritrean roots.

Daniel mentions that there aren’t many entry points for people who aren’t part of the culture, such as those who don’t regularly attend church or speak the language. In his view, “Motherland Sounds” served as an exploration of Pan Africanism in a subtle way by focusing on easily accessible elements like food and music. He believes that this approach made it easier for people to connect with what they are creating.

Travel through Southeast Asia with No Nazar

When: Roughly every couple of months
Where: Varies

For close to a decade now, Bianca Maieli has been incorporating elements of both her Colombian and Indian heritage into her DJ performances. However, it wasn’t until around four years back that she joined forces with two other DJ friends, Malinder Tooray and Omar Ahmed, to establish a party named “No Nazar.” This event showcases music from various nations, with a particular focus on Asian tunes.

Maieli mentions, “I wasn’t certain if there was a public or demand for it beyond those who were already acquainted with it. However, it’s quite exciting to discover that, indeed, there is.”

“The term ‘Nazar’ is an Arabic word that signifies the idea of the ‘malicious gaze,’ a glance thought to inflict harm upon its recipient due to envy. However, ‘No Nazar’ encapsulates perfectly what the founders aim for individuals to feel during their event – a surge of positive energy and a fusion of music cultures on the dance floor, as Maieli explains. Since its inception, the party has spread its wings to cities such as New York, London, San Francisco, Toronto, and Detroit.”

At a “No Nazar” party, Maieli notes that the variety of music can be unpredictable since DJs frequently switch between different genres. You might find yourself grooving to a Brazilian funk tune like “Atoladinha” by MC Bola de Fogo and MC Tati Quebra Baraco one moment, then moving to an energetic remix of Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Tumhe Dillagi” the next. Jamaican artist Sean Paul’s “Temperature” might also catch your ear at some point. In an August “No Nazar” event, two men showcased a traditional Indian dance called Bhangra as the DJ played an upbeat remix of Diljit Dosanjh’s “Case.” Remember to have your Shazam app handy so you can quickly save the songs for your personal music collection.

Turn up to global sounds at ¡BAILE!

When: Bimonthly
Where: The Echo in Echo Park

Upon relocating from Mexico City to L.A. a couple of years back, Arlie Toriz initially disliked going out due to her familiarity with the stickiness and grime of her previous home, which made social events feel more like crashing a house party than an upscale club, as she describes. However, everything shifted when she stumbled upon “¡BAILE!” on a whim during a bar-hopping night in Highland Park. Inside, she encountered people, predominantly women, dancing closely together in the steamy room to artists such as Rosalía and El Alfa.

She expresses her pleasure at listening to contemporary Mexican music, stating that it resonated with her personally. Moreover, she felt secure as a queer femme, an aspect of importance to the creators, which indicated that they were well-informed and attuned to their audience’s preferences.

She adds, “It feels so much like home.”

Following a summer party in 2022 where they were both spinning tunes, Hollinquest and Ben-Nissan found common ground in their shared passion for diverse global rhythms. As Ben-Nissan, of mixed Middle Eastern and Mexican heritage, put it, “We both wondered why we weren’t playing this kind of music more.” The concept of ¡BAILE!, a party that Hollinquest had previously named casually, was revitalized. With the aid of a TikTok post, they filled their inaugural event at The Friend bar in Silver Lake. They subsequently shifted it to the Blind Barber in Highland Park and eventually made the Echo their regular venue. Artists such as Becky G and La Goony Chonga have graced the stage, while DJs like Karaba, Bianca Oblivion, Habibeats, and Dos Flakos have performed sets at ¡BAILE!.

According to DJ DINA (Ben-Nissan), they have a tendency to seamlessly blend various musical genres. They might transition from a Los Angeles hip-hop track to a reggaeton song, then to soca, baile funk, and an edit, only to return to Sexyy Red, yet all these styles remain cohesive because, fundamentally, all music shares common connections.

Throw powder and dance to soca music at Junkyard Jouvert

When: Once or twice a year
Where: Varies

When Adam Cooper stumbled upon an abandoned lot brimming with RVs and off-road vehicles in South Central, he recognized its hidden possibilities. Known as DJ Foreigner, he approached the owner to request permission for a gathering called “Junkyard Jouvert,” inspired by the lively street event, J’ouvert, which hails from Trinidad and Tobago. At this celebration, individuals engage in a vibrant tradition where they splash paint and powder onto each other. J’ouvert is also the initial festivity of Carnival, serving as its symbolic opening.

Cooper, born in Trinidad and Tobago and raised between Venezuela and New York, believes that the unique atmosphere of soca music could be particularly enjoyable for L.A., given that it’s a genre that requires immersion to truly appreciate. He also adds that there’s something about the spontaneity of exchanging paint that enhances the overall experience.

Approximately 250 people showed up at the inaugural “Junkyard Jouvert” event in March 2018, running from 2 a.m. until sunrise. Now, this party has become one of the most eagerly awaited events in L.A. for those who enjoy Afro Caribbean music, Carnival, and a welcoming atmosphere for dancing without judgment. Cooper organizes “Junkyard Jouvert” on either a yearly or bi-yearly basis to “keep it unique,” he explains, but he also arranges other events such as “Roadblock” and “Carnival Tabanca” throughout the year. The next Junkyard Jouvert is scheduled for September 7th.

As someone deeply involved with “Junkyard Jouvert,” I can attest that it’s not just Caribbean folks who are drawn to this vibrant celebration. Many are genuinely intrigued by the tradition, and I’m proud to be part of bringing them in. For me, this work is a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who value the same cultural aspects as I do. It also provides a platform for us to recreate an atmosphere that some believe can only be found overseas.

Energetic dancers take the stage at Afrobeats of The World. (The Vzul)

At Afrobeats of the World, you can anticipate a broad assortment of Afrobeats and numerous other music styles originating from Africa. (Paraphrased by AI)

Take a trip to West Africa via Afrobeats to the World

When: Every 3-4 months
Where: Varies

Following the organization of events such as “Afro Gogo” and “Afro Bashment,” which were among the few Afrobeats parties in L.A., Kwabena Anfo, a native of Accra, Ghana, contemplated an important question: “How can I disseminate African music globally?” His solution was “Afrobeats to the World,” a vibrant musical journey launched in 2021 for individuals who admire Afrobeats and the various genres emerging from Africa.

Experiencing “Afrobeats to the World” is akin to entering a vibrant, high-spirited concert, with DJs and musicians like DJ Juls from London and Nigerian artist Ayra Starr taking center stage. You’ll often find a group of enthusiastic dancers on stage maintaining the momentum. The playlist spans across genres, featuring classics by Fela Kuti as well as contemporary hits from Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy, and more. Additionally, you might hear Amapiano records by artists such as Tyler ICU and Kabza De Small.

Last year, I embarked on my first global tour titled “Afrobeats to the World,” hitting 16 cities across the globe. This summer, I’m thrilled to announce the second leg of that journey, taking me to Mexico City, Miami, and Columbus, Ohio. As a passionate advocate for African music, I’m proudly fulfilling my mission to share this vibrant sound with the world.

“My goal was not to only attract Africans,” he says. “[I wanted] to make it more inclusive for other people to be able to experience the African culture.” Anfo will be throwing his first festival, dubbed Enjoyment Land, which will celebrate African music, food and art on Oct. 6 in downtown L.A.

2024-08-28 13:35

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