I was born in Cuba, the son of Spanish immigrants. I left Cuba after the revolution and arrived in the United States at eighteen years of age. I did not speak English, work was my priority, and I attended school at night to learn the language.

I joined the U.S. Army, and after I was honorably discharged, I started working for a prominent New York bank while attending college at night. After graduating, I joined a computer technology company, married, raised a family, and climbed the corporate ladder.

I’ve always wanted to write about my childhood memories, particularly the game of Kimbumba. I’m an elder of the game. After almost seventy years, I now have the opportunity to write about the history of the game of Kimbumba, which, to the best of my knowledge, has never been documented. I can also finally give Don Manuel, my Afro-Cuban friend, and Kimbumba mentor, the proper forum for the compelling story of his family’s captivity, achievements, and struggles to gain their freedom.