A woman with an incandescent look on her face dances on the stage, inspired by a rapture the audience can feel. She stops for a moment and poses, then dances again; the smile on her face seems permanent, the joy she conveys – irresistible. Fans hold onto every syllable that proceeds from her mouth – they sing along, call out to her, exclaim and shake their heads in delight. There are many Spanish speakers in the crowd. Some hold up cloth flags that say "Viva Susanna Baca". Her accompanists are as passionate about their performance as she is. They swap riffs with her and with each other as they perform their fiery music.
This is Susanna Baca. An icon in her native Peru, her performances entrance people all over the world. The Afro-Peruvian tradition of music is kept alive by people like her. Listening to her music, one hears the cajon, or polished wooden box, played to perfection by her long-time musical partner Juan Medrano.
The cajon, an instrument that has been adopted by flamenco players, is an integral part of her sound. It creates some of the most infectious percussion to back her indescribably soulful voice. Congas, bongos, clay pots and various other instruments weave and meld together in her music. Combined with this is a deep jazz sensibility that takes in the music of the Tropicalistas, Brazilian jazz musicians that have included the eminent Gilberto Gil, some of whom she has played with.
Signing with David Byrne's label LuakaBop has given her international success. Honours have rained down on her. She has won a Grammy. The last 15 years have seen her embrace the wider world. She took up a fellowship at the University of Chicago to study the music of the African diaspora.
While Ms Baca does not describe herself as a Roman Catholic, she has been influenced by religion in her own way. Religion has taught her to share, she says. Sharing is one thing she does abundantly. She has started an institute in Peru called Negrocontinuo to promote Afro-Peruvian culture, especially its music and dance.
It is a tradition that was ignored by mainstream society when she was growing up. Ms Baca's work has helped it gain a footing in modern Peru and find admirers all over the world. That is precisely why she is so keen to make sure that the past is not lost.
Susanna Baca albums are on LuakaBop Records. Available in good music stores.
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