Interview with Maestro Albertano

Xtá Ratsá Visit — Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Today we traveled to the community of Laguna Seca and renewed our collaboration with Maestro Albertano Gerónimo Cantú García, a traditional Mè'phàà musician. Maestro Albertano leads the traditional dance known as Xtá Ratsá with children and adolescents. This dance is mainly performed in September, when a ritual is also held for Akùùn Èwè (famine), asking that it withdraw and that harvests be abundant.

We arrived in the village during the fifth Friday of Lent and could not meet with local authorities, so our conversation took place only with Maestro Albertano, with whom we had already discussed the dance. Shortly before meeting him, we walked through the village looking for him because he was participating in mayordomía community responsibilities and related activities.

When we found him, we greeted each other and recalled previous work with the Gusanos de la Memoria Collective. He introduced us to other members of the mayordomía; they welcomed us warmly and invited us to eat. Later, we had to take shelter in the church because of rain. Even so, mayordomía activities did not stop, and they moved through the village with a calf to begin the jaripeo (a traditional community rodeo celebration).

Once the rain eased, we had to return to Tlapa de Comonfort because the road back was long. Before leaving, we reaffirmed our commitment to collaborate with Maestro Albertano and scheduled a meeting with village authorities.

Visit — Wednesday, April 1, 2026

On Wednesday we began the month of April by visiting the Mè'phàà community of Laguna Seca, in the municipality of Malinaltepec (Mañuwìín).

We traveled mainly because a meeting was planned with members of the community council, Xtá Ratsá dance teachers, parents, and child and youth dance participants.

Unfortunately, the meeting could not be held due to the absence of community authorities. We met only with Maestro Albertano Gerónimo Cantú García, who was already waiting for us at his home with his wife and daughter.

Maestro Albertano explained that the authorities were absent because of urgent administrative duties, so they were away from the community. We hope to have a new date for this anticipated meeting soon.

We spoke with the maestro and his family. A first interview was conducted, and the maestro played several melodies with guitarist Jalil Mosso Castrejón (who is part of the team). This interview was documented in photography and video.

We then took a brief walk through the community and had to return to Tlapa de Comonfort before the storm arrived.