NocheUnidos welcomes bomba group, Mardi Gras Indians to The Ringling

By Ian Swaby
| 2:05 p.m. February 3, 2025

Maria Cruz dances in the performance by Bomba Yemayá.

Sarasota
Neighbors

It may be a month until Mardi Gras, but there was the sight of feathers and color as a bomba group, followed by the leaders of two Mardi Gras Indian tribes, took to the stage at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art on Jan. 31.

UnidosNow co-founder CJ Czaia said being able to host NocheUnidos at the museum on Jan. 31, which celebrated Hispanic heritage, was "big time" for the organization.

He says the organization was founded to "inspire young people to understand we have a great country and we can participate, but we need to educate ourselves, and we need to be active."

"The longer we are here, the more we raise, the more we end up getting involved in the community, the more more of a strong foothold we have, partnerships we build, so we can give back and help," he said.

The event began with music by Bomba Yemayá, one of the leading groups performing the Afro-Puerto Rican genre of bomba, and continued with The 79rs Gang from New Orleans, led by the Big Chiefs of Mardi Gras Indian tribes, 7th Ward Creole Hunters and the 9th Ward Hunters.

Martin Alvarez, 13, said he was glad to be present for an event supporting the organization, which he said he helped him in ways that include gaining scholarships.

"When I came here, I had a bit of help from my parents, but I didn't really know what to do, and it's helped me understand some careers better than I did before, and also investigate things for my future, as well visit campuses in Sarasota County and outside, and just to know what they offer, and it's been really good," he said.

Kuniko Yamamoto dances with Pamela Callender.

Rafael Cepeda and Maria Cruz of Bomba Yemayá dance together.

Will Knetge and Leslie Calero listen to the music.

Romeo Bougere III takes the stage alongside his father, Big Chief Romeo Bougere, of the 9th Ward Hunters Mardi Gras Indian gang.

Lori Peacock and Eric Ryszkiewicz enjoy the music from a seat on the wall.

The Ringling's curator of performance Elizabeth Doud hands the microphone to Kelly Kirschner, a board member and co-founder of UnidosNow.

Victor Quiñonez and Ayai Ortiz play with Bomba Yemayá.

Kylianie Echeevarria, 9, dances with Maritza Toro.

Moses Cummings, ABC's "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin, Gabriel Hostin, Debra Thomas and Dewayne Martin.

Christian and Alex Sarruff and Matilde and José Rodriguez enjoy the music.

Martino Ospina, 7, UnidosNow co-founder CJ Czaia and Alejandro Ospina, 11, take to the stage.

The Flag Boy of Big Chief Romeo Bougere's Mardi Gras Indian tribe, performs with The 79rs Gang. The Flag Boy always carries the banner of the tribe and accompanies the Big Chief.

Monika and Arthur White dance in the courtyard.

Randic Morillo and Uma Morillo, 4 watch Bomba Yemayá perform.

The Spy Boy of Big Chief Romeo Bougere's Mardi Gras Indian tribe, performs with The 79rs Gang. In New Orleans, the Spy Boy always leads the procession of the Big Chief.

Romeo Bougere III dances to the music of The 79rs Gang, which features his father Romeo Bougere, in the courtyard.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.