Proyecto Kokobalé is dedicated to the revival and promotion of Kokobalé (also spelled Cocobalé), an Afro-Puerto Rican martial art that blends machete or stick combat with the music, singing, and dance of Bomba. This ancestral practice emerged during colonial times as a form of resistance: Afro-descendant communities disguised combat training as festive activities in Bomba gatherings, keeping warrior traditions alive under the watchful eye of colonial authorities.

Carlos “Xiorro” Padilla—a master with two decades of experience in Bomba and Afro-diasporic martial arts—founded this project to document, teach, and share this cultural legacy through community workshops, artistic presentations, and international exchanges.