Ritmos de Identidad:Fernando Ortiz’s Legacy and the Howard Family Collection of Percussion Instruments
September 8, 2000 to January 21, 2001

In celebration of the singular sound of the Latin beat, Ritmos de Identidad presents the legacy of percussion arts in the Americas. Organized by the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives, Ritmos de Identidad provides a multimedia exploration of the African roots of Caribbean music.  

From the tropical sounds of Salsa, Latin Jazz, Mambo, Merengue to Samba, percussion has played an important role in defining Latin sound. This bilingual exhibit highlights the preservation and transformation of African musical cultural traditions in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Ritmos de Identidad also tells the story of two remarkable individuals, Fernando Ortiz, the pioneering scholar of Afro-Cuban culture, and Dr. Joseph H. Howard, a collector of musical instruments from the Caribbean, Africa and around the world. Fernando Ortiz (1881-1969) was one of the preeminent intellectuals and public figures of twentieth-century Cuba. In countless books and other publications, he investigated the far-reaching contribution of African traditions such as music, dance and drumming to the culture of Cuba. His books include La africanía de la música folklórica de Cuba and Los bailes y Los instrumentos de la música afrocubana. The exhibition features books, photographs and memorabilia related to Ortiz’s career.

Dr. Joseph H. Howard (1912-1994) was born in Venezuela of African, European and East Indian ancestry. He grew up in Chicago, where he was fascinated with rhythm and drumming, and went on to earn a doctorate in dental surgery at the University of Illinois. Howard practiced oral surgery in Los Angeles for several decades, arranging his professional life so that he could dedicate a part of the year to his collecting. Collecting, studying and playing drums was his passion. In the course of his life, he and his wife Bootsie amassed a collection of nearly 800 drums and other musical instruments from throughout the world. This unique ensemble represents musical traditions in Asia, the Pacific region, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Mrs. Howard also collected African art.  

The Howards made their quest a family affair, involving their children— Brock and Victoria— in the acquisition, study and care of the collection.

Ritmos de Identidad features more than 80 rare musical instruments from the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Howard Family Collection. Included are hand-painted sacred and secular drums, rattles and other percussion instruments from the Caribbean, South America and West Africa. The collection is on loan from Victoria R. Howard.

Exhibition artifacts are enhanced by videotapes on the lives of Ortiz and Howard, as remembered by their daughters. A variety of audiotapes introduce visitors to Caribbean and African musical styles.

Organized by the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives.

The national tour of Ritmos de Identidad: Fernando Ortíz’s Legacy and the Howard Collection of Percussion Instruments is supported by the presenting sponsorship of Texaco.