Enrique "Papi" Mesa Cespedes
September 8, 1941 - April 14, 1997

Enrique "Papi" Mesa was a mainstay of Afrocuba’s percussion section, with the group since its foundation. He is survived by his wife and children in Matanzas.   He is sorely missed by all, including the younger generation of percussionists he was training.

Papi Mesa played bata as well as all the styles of folkloric percussion in Cuba. Besides his work in Afrocuba, he played bata with Esteban "Chacha" Vega Bacallao in los Tambores de Chacha.

Papi Mesa deserves a fuller obituary. Perhaps someone going to Matanzas can bring one back.