PRESS RELEASE

Friday May 16th 2014 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Jose A. TureyCu Lopez
Director: Guamo! – Voice of the Taino People
Tel: 646 548-4079
WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/yayaguaili.tainoyukayeke?fref=ts

G.U.A.M.O.! Voice of the Taino People tm 2004
(Generational Uplifting Academic & Music Organization)
Native American Music, Theater, Dance, Art

MISSION STATEMENT, PRESS RELEASE & BIOGRAPHY
Guamo = n: Trumpet, made from the large Conch Sea Shell.

“GUAMO” is an ancient Caribbean Native American word meaning “sea trumpet” from the Boricua/Taino Native American Indians of Boriken (Puerto Rico), a subculture of the Lokono (Arawak) Tribe from South America.


The word “GUAMO” was used by the Taino People to describe a conch shell that was carved, cut and blown through like a trumpet to alert tribesmen from danger or to send messages.

“GUAMO” is also the call sign and origin for a traditional, but highly innovative, energetic, highly charged, creative, historic Music & Theater Company called “G.U.A.M.O.” (Generational Uplifting Academic & Music Organization) Voice of the People, whose purpose is an interactive, fun and holistic approach to educating, uplifting, cultivating, and enriching the lives of Latino, Caribbean and African youth about their historic Pre-Columbus Native American heritage and Diaspora.

“G.U.A.M.O.” (Generational Uplifting Academic & Music Organization) Voice of the People recognizes that Latino, Caribbean, and African youth are incomplete until they are truly informed of what was not originally taught about their Native American history. As a result of this (incompleteness) they develop low self esteem and become desperate to assimilate other cultures that are not their own and develop an identity crisis that can cause serious conflicts to them in later years.

G.U.A.M.O.” (Generational Uplifting Academic & Music Organization) Voice of the People not only teaches, but encourages youth to bond with their past, strengthen their beliefs in family values, and learn humbleness and respect within their families/households. GUAMO's hope is that children will learn and honor the customs of their ancestors and that they carry on this knowledge to their children and so on.

G.U.A.M.O.” (Generational Uplifting Academic & Music Organization) Voice of the People uses Music, Theater, Dance and Art to expose, immerse, and educate Caribbean/Native American Culture’s History, Language, Clothing, Medicine, Martial Arts, Dance, Music, Food, Philosophy, Ideals etc., through a series of theatrical and creative classes and workshops. G.U.A.M.O. Theater is comprised of a core group of two Native American Artists/Educators: Mr. Jose “TureyCu” Lopez. Is joined by a collection of over a dozen professional artists, historians, tribesmen, and community activists dedicated to creatively teaching youth and adults the real history of Caribbean Native Americans, whom are commonly today known as Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Jamaicans, Cubans etc. GUAMO is introducing a new type of fused music of tribal and ancestral rhythms with a mixture of modern and popular commercial music rhythms to help young people bond with their history but also teaching and preserving the ancient Caribbean Languages in a unique new music trend called "TRIBAL THUMP!."