Many Americans with scant exposure to Hispanic culture might assume Xiomara Alfaro stands as the lone and most prominent bearer of that name within the United States. In truth, the given name Xiomara—pronounced roughly “shiomara” or “jiomara”—has long been common among Hispanic women and sits far outside the rarity of Xanthipour, Xiomysfer, or Xubitunt. Even Helio Orovio, author of Cuban Music from A to Z, errs by listing the celebrated vocalist as male. Although some male performers have drawn comparisons to Diana Ross, Joan Jett, or Carmen Miranda, the 1958 film Mambo supplies visual confirmation: Alfaro and Sylvana Mangano portray its two sultry female leads. A native of Havana, she first worked in musical theater, cabaret, radio, and television before embarking on international tours that took her from Cuba to the United States and expanded her repertoire across the broader spectrum of Latin music. She served as singer and dancer with the Katherine Dunham company and appeared in choruses at Las Vegas nightclubs including the Flamingo. Alfaro is wed to pianist Rafael Benitez. Her late sister, Olympia Alfaro, also known as Omí Sanyá, held the rank of apuón within the Lukumí Orisha tradition and specialized in its distinctive gospel repertoire. During the 1970s, Xiomara Alfaro received ordination in the Oshún faith from her sibling. She remains active as a performer and recording artist of Latin music while regularly joining her husband in workshops and educational programs.
