Exan Cepeda

Hometown:

Santurce, Puerto Rico

Carrying the Cepeda legacy is not just a family honor—it’s a cultural responsibility. Bomba is our ancestral language, and my mission is to keep it alive both in the batey and on global stages.

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Exan Cepeda is a direct descendant of the legendary Cepeda family, a cornerstone of bomba and plena music in Puerto Rico. Grandson of Dr. Modesto Cepeda Brenes, and great-grandson of Rafael Cepeda Atiles—widely regarded as “The Patriarch of Bomba and Plena”—Exan was born into a tradition of rhythm, storytelling, and cultural pride.

Biography

He began playing the maraca at just three months old, soon mastering the barril (drum) and dance. His formal music education started at the University of Puerto Rico’s elementary school, where he studied trombone under Ricardo López, Víctor Vázquez, and Daniel Fuentes. In ninth grade, he expanded into percussion with guidance from maestro Raúl Rodríguez.

Exan has performed with groups such as Los Cepeditas, Cimiento de Puerto Rico, Kinder Bomba, and Somos Bomba, and currently performs with Gracimá and Atabal, two ensembles that blend traditional and contemporary Caribbean music. His cultural journey has taken him to Cuba, Colombia, Austria, and several U.S. states, including New York, California, and Ohio.

He now co-directs the Escuela de Bomba y Plena Rafael Cepeda Atiles in Villa Palmeras with his mother, Brenda Cepeda, fostering intergenerational learning and community healing through music. Most recently, he collaborated with urban artist Rauw Alejandro on the music video for “Carita Linda,” alongside choreographers Denise Disla and Félix Burgos.

Artist Statement

“Carrying the Cepeda legacy is not just a family honor—it’s a cultural responsibility. Bomba is our ancestral language, and my mission is to keep it alive both in the batey and on global stages.”

Artistic & Cultural Contributions

Featured Works / Projects:

Collaborated on “Carita Linda” by Rauw Alejandro, supporting choreography and cultural elements.
Active performer and educator at the Escuela de Bomba y Plena Rafael Cepeda Atiles.
International performances in Cuba, Colombia, Austria, and throughout the U.S.
Member of Gracimá and Atabal, groups that push bomba and plena into innovative soundscapes.

Community & Cultural Commitment:

Co-directs the Rafael Cepeda Atiles Bomba and Plena School, focusing on community-based education.
Organizes events and workshops to preserve and teach traditional Puerto Rican rhythms.
Bridges generations by mentoring youth and celebrating elders through music and storytelling.

Aspirations:

Expand the global reach of bomba and plena through collaborations and cultural exchange.
Innovate while honoring tradition, using music as a tool for empowerment and cultural diplomacy.
Grow the school into a cultural hub for artistic development, research, and intergenerational healing.