FandangObon is an annual festival in Los Angeles that brings together the Japanese, Mexican, and African-American communities into one circle to share participatory music and dance traditions in order to celebrate Mother Earth.

This video contains highlights of FandangObon 2015, held on October 25 at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. FandangObon was created and organized by Nobuko Miyamoto of Great Leap, and Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez of the band Quetzal. In 2015, they partnered with Le Ballet Dembaya and Frances and Omowale Awe, to bring West African music and dance traditions into the ever-widening circle.

Documentation of the event was by Akira Boch and John Esaki of the Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum, and filmmaker Sara Aguilar.

Read article about FandangObon by Nobuko Miyamoto >>