Migration from Oaxaca to California’s Central Valley is not a single moment of departure, but a process shaped by movement, memory, and adaptation. Oaxacan communities—rooted in a diversity of Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions—have created vibrant social and cultural landscapes in places like Arvin, Madera, and Lamont. These towns are more than sites of labor; they are spaces of celebration, where traditions are reimagined, and a sense of belonging is nurtured through sound, ceremony, and collective care.

The San Joaquin Valley is now home to one of the largest Oaxacan populations outside of Mexico, including speakers of Mixteco, Zapoteco, and Triqui. Many migrants arrived to work in agriculture, drawn by seasonal labor and economic need, but what they carried with them—songs, dances, instruments, ways of organizing—has taken root in new ways. Community celebrations like the Fiesta de San Juan, the Chilena Festival, and the Guelaguetza are no longer only local traditions—they are vital cultural expressions that connect generations and affirm identity across borders.

In June 2024, Arvin’s Fiesta de San Juan brought together dancers, musicians, and families to honor Saint John the Baptist, a tradition carried from the Sierra Sur and Mixteca regions of Oaxaca. Alongside the procession and ceremony, chilenas filled the air—music born along Oaxaca’s Pacific coast, blending Indigenous, African, and European elements. In Madera’s Chilena Festival in September, performers played both chilenas tradicionales with stringed instruments and new interpretations using electronic setups, showing how tradition continues to evolve while holding deep communal meaning.

The Guelaguetza celebration is named after the Zapotec concept of mutual aid and shared responsibility. In Lamont, organizers gathered diverse Oaxacan communities to celebrate with dance, regional dress, and food. Through collective effort, organizers recreated the feeling of home, not as nostalgia, but as presence and continuity. These celebrations are acts of cultural work that reinforce communal ties and teach younger generations how to carry tradition forward.

Interviews collected through Sounds of California reveal the richness and complexity of Oaxacan cultural expression in the Central Valley. Musicians shared stories of learning chilenas by ear from older relatives, or experimenting with electric guitar and synth to reach younger audiences. A trío romántico reflected on serenades and love songs that were part of their youth in Oaxaca and still resonate in backyard gatherings today. Dancers spoke of the physical discipline and joy in learning regional steps. A Mixtec rapper described how Indigenous language and rhythm come together in his lyrics—resisting erasure and asserting identity.

Organizers emphasized the labor behind these events: coordinating performances, preparing traditional foods, inviting elders, and ensuring that the next generation understands the value of tequio—communal work that supports the whole. These efforts build something more than an event; they rebuild cultural infrastructure across borders.

Through rhythm and language, festivals and collaboration, Oaxacan communities are reshaping the Central Valley. Their voices echo across landscapes, turning fields and community halls into spaces of joy, memory, and resistance—reminding us that culture is always in motion, and that belonging can be built, together.