By BRITTNEY WILLIAMS

The late Ibrahim González is described as a bridge between different communities. “He made everyone his family,” said Bobby González, a longtime friend of González and the organizer of the Bronx chapter of American Indian Powwow.

On the one year anniversary of his death, González’s family gathered at Epiphany Lutheran Church for a tribute to the talented and beloved Bronx artist. As rain poured down outside, the scene indoors was vibrant, with music of all genres adding to the soundtrack. In the background, guests viewed a slideshow of González’s photographs featuring music and a narration by González’s younger brother Alfred.

It was a celebration of sorts for González, the bespectacled musician, radio show host, journalist and activist who added pizzazz to Norwood, where he lived. González died in his sleep suddenly on June 4, 2013 at age 57. He was nicknamed Mambo Dervish, a name that served a two-fold purpose–Mambo to evoke his love of music, which he consistently promoted on his radio shows; and Dervish as an ode to his Muslim faith.

He had a love for different music genres, with Latin jazz remaining close to his heart. It was fitting then that the program showcased multiple musical performances as part of an ensemble Latin jazz concert that included Grammy award-winning artist Arturo O’Farrill along with fellow musicians Chico Alvarez, Freddy Fuego, Jay Rodriguez, Lewis Khan, Victor Rendon and Ray Martinez. The crowd was energized by the performances at the free concert.

Immediate family members played an important role as they performed songs and poetry in honor of González. Janet Jallilah Norquist-González, Ibrahim’s widow, performed a piece on the piano, and his niece, Natalia González read a letter written by Anisa González, Ibrahim’s daughter. They shared everything from childhood memories to how he inspired them through his life work.

The Life of an Artist
González was much more than a musician, as those closest to him remembered. He expressed himself and his beliefs through multiple art forms. Photography was a big part of who he was and it played an important role in the tribute. Photography is something that Ibrahim

González inspired Alfred to pursue.

The younger González hosted the entire night and felt close to his brother as he spoke before the group that had gathered to enjoy the tribute. González eulogized his brother, painting a portrait of an artist known for bringing people together.

Alfred felt blessed that he was able to meet all the people his brother impacted. Even Alfred’s godson Nicolas Benitez was able to meet and play with outstanding musicians for the audience. It was a moment that Alfred González was very proud of. “The closer I get to these people, I feel the closer I can get to him,” Alfred said.

Remembering Ibrahim
González advocated for the freedom of expression. He supported tolerance and pushed for people to stand together instead of apart. He once staged a walkout of a school because he believed students should have the right to choose to express themselves the way they desired. His deep interest in culture and religion connected him with people from all different walks of life.

“I’m an activist, he was an activist. It’s nice to see how he affected people and used music as a big part of his life,” said Sandra Lee, a food service worker who admired González’s commitment to the neighborhood.

Ahmad Ali, 52, is the new host of the radio show, WBAI that González hosted for years. Ali, from Central Islip, Long Island heard his predecessor on the radio and was instantly moved. They later became co-hosts and Ali felt that González became somewhat of a soul mate. “After my parents died, he was the one individual on the planet that I felt most connected with,” said Ali, a fellow Muslim. Coming from the town with the largest Puerto Rican population in Long Island, Ali connected with González and they both felt united with their Muslim faith.

Living life to the fullest was a big part of how González lived his life and everyone at his tribute smiled and laughed as they remembered González in this way. “I never think anybody dies too young,” said Alfred shortly after the tribute. “People left there feeling good and that’s exactly what I wanted.”

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.