Felipe Garcia Villamil was born in Matanzas, Cuba to Tomasa Villamil and Benigno Garcia. Felipe
has been a Balogun for 34 years, an Oluanya of Matanzas for 44 years, an Omo Anya for 49 years, and is also an Olu Iyesa.
Felipe and his family who now reside in the city of Los Angeles, California play Bata drums, Iyesa drums, Guiro, and
Bembe. Felipe and his family also construct drums of all types and do many types of artisan and bead work.
Felipe currently has two recordings of his group Emikeke. Below is a description of the content on
these two recordings.
Emikeke: Volume I: Mantanzas, Cuba, 1973.
Selections: Musicians:
1. Elegua Iya/Akpwon:
Felipe Garcia Villamil
2. Ogun Itotele:
Amado Diaz
3. Ochosi Okonkolo:
Reynaldo Gove
4. Oduduwa
Akpwon/Coro: Teresa Polledo
5. Ochun
Akpwon/Coro: Ana Perez
6. Yemaya
Coro: Rolando Yani, Jose Estachole,
7. Oya Jorge
Rodriguez.
Emikeke: Volume II: New York, United States, 1998.
Selections:
Musicians:
1. Elegua
Iya/Akpwon: Felipe Garcia Villamil
2. Ogun Itotele:
Greg Askew
3. Ochosi Okonkolo:
Jessie Feldman
Orisa Oko Coro:
Ajamu Smith, Maria Landis,
Dada
Lindel Brookhouse Gil, Alfonso Serrano.
Korikoto
Oge
4. Osain
Babalu Aiye
5. Ibeji
Angaju
6. Chango
7. Oduduwa/Obatala
To get in contact with Felipe about his CD's, Drum classes, Artisan work, Bead work, Orisa song classes,
or Religious Activities please call him and his family at: (323) 972-8008.
