A 21 Week Program

Sacred Taino Songkeepers is an educational offering guided and developed by Akutu Irka Mateo, where people with Taino ancestry can come together to receive songs originating from diverse sources within our Afro-Indigenous and ancestral traditions.

Course Curriculum

    1. Welcome and Important Dates

    2. Weekly Zoom Access Link

    3. Join Signal Discussion Group

    4. Student Agreement

    5. Additional Guidance on Singing

    1. Akutu’s Transmission of Atabeira

    2. Atabeira Lyrics

    3. Atabeira Pronunciation

    4. Atabeira Acapella 65BPM

    5. Drum 2: Right Handed 60BPM

    6. Drum 2: Left Handed 60BPM

    1. Akutu’s Transmission of Yucahu

    2. Yucahu Lyrics

    3. Yucahu Pronunciation

    4. Yucahu Acapella

    5. Yucahu Drum & Song 60BPM

    1. Akutu’s Transmission of Tainos

    2. Tainos Lyrics

    3. Tainos Pronunciation

    4. Tainos: Explanation of Lyrics

    5. Tainos: Explanation of Rhythm Conguitos

    6. Tainos Rhythm of Coguitos Only

    7. Tainos Album Version

    1. Akutu’s Transmission of Rey Caonabo

    2. Rey Caonabo Lyrics

    3. Rey Caonabo Acapella 65BPM

    4. Live Class Recording: Rey Caonabo

    5. Rey Caonabo: Explanation of Song

    6. Rey Caonabo: Explanation of Rhythm

    7. Palos del Cercado Left Handed Explanation

    8. Palos del Cercado Rhythm Left Handed 70BPM

    9. Palos del Cercado Rhythm Explanation- Right Handed

    10. Palos del Cercado Rhythm- Right Handed

    11. Rey Caonabo: Additional Drumming Explanation

    12. Rey Caonabo: Reminder of Order of Lyrics

    13. Rey Caonabo Rhythm & Song 65BPM

    1. Akutu’s Transmission of Reina Anacaona

    2. Reina Anacaona Lyrics

    3. Reina Anacaona: Explanation of Origin

    4. Reina Anacaona: Explanation of Rhythm

    5. Reina Pronunciation

    6. Explanation of Where Song Begins

    7. Reina Anacaona: Reminder of Lyric Order

    8. Reina Acapella

    9. Reina Melody 70BPM

About this course

  • 21 Live Classes
  • 8 Songs (Lyrics, Rythm, Pronunciation & Context)
  • Private Discussion Group

Meet Your Guides

About Irka Mateo

Lead Teacher, Program Creator and Lineage Holder

Irka’s path has unfolded through decades of ceremony, cultural reclamation, and the teachings of our elders, shaping a practice that weaves together the spiritual, the creative, and the ancestral. Her work flows through many channels including ceremony, guidance, teaching, healing, and the ceramic arts — all of them anchored in singing, the ancient ceremonial chants, our shared wisdom, and the living memory of our people.

About Diez Hura

Apprentice in Ancestral Music, Teaching & Program Lead

Diez Hura serves as Matunlukukia Behike for the Boriken Region of Higuayagua Taino of the Caribbean. They are the Founder of the queer Taino Collective Kiwari Taino Itai, and are an apprentice in ancestral music who is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of our indigenous ways.

What's Included:

  • Lifetime Access to All Recordings, PDF'S & Other Course Resources via convenient online portal

  • Online Live Group Feedback Sessions with Akutu

  • Access to a private community chat group for connecting with others on the journey and receiving practice guidance

  • By enrolling in this course, you become eligible for advanced songkeeper studies, and annual in person retreats with Akutu

Join Us

Weekly Live Online Sessions Meet On Sundays at 7 am pacific time. Cohort 3 in Progress. 4 Dates TBD.

If you have known Taino ancestry and are ready to make a commitment to learning traditional Taino ceremonial music with care and respect, please visit the link below to join the waitlist to be the first to hear when applications open for the next cohort.
Join Wait List Now