nˈoʊn æz ɐn ˈɛkspɜːt ˌɔn ˈæfɹoʊkjˈuːbən kˈʌltʃɚ, hiː stˈʌdid sˌoʊsɪˈɑːlədʒi æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv hɐvˈænə, ˌʌndɚ fɜːnˈændoʊ ɔːɹtˈiːz, ðə paɪənˈɪɹ ʌv kjˈuːbən ˌænθɹəpˈɑːlədʒi.
Known as an expert on Afro-Cuban culture, he studied sociology at the University of Havana, under Fernando Ortiz, the pioneer of Cuban anthropology.