Chilena Covid-19

August 19, 2021

Grupo Recreación Musical is a traditional indigenous Mixtec Chilena band from Bakersfield where they perform at local fiestas and Mixtec community celebrations. They are known for their abilities to sing in the Mixtec language and play the popular Chilena rhythms, which is a musical flag for Mixtecs, serving as a beloved kind of social dance music. Pedro Cruz, the group’s leader, composed “Chilena Covid 19” which is recorded in Mixtec as well as Spanish. Over 100,000 Mixtec immigrants live and work in California as essential workers.


Part of ACTAvando Contra COVID, a program of the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA). ACTA produced new works in Spanish and Mixtec in music, poetry and theater by four beloved Latinx artists and ensembles in the San Joaquin Valley. These new pieces all animate public health messaging for the prevention of COVID-19 in the valley, a region which has experienced both high level of infection and low vaccination rates during the pandemic.


ACTA's program is one of 14 public art projects organized by the CA Governor's Office and the Sierra Health Foundation.


Listen to the original song "Chilena Covid-19" here.

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