Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño | |
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![]() Typical poster used to announce the Festival | |
Official name | Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico [1] |
Also called | Festival Afrocaribeño |
Type | Local, cultural |
Celebrations | Music, food, dancing, crafts, rides [2] |
Date | Last weekend of June |
Frequency | Yearly |
First time | 1999 |
Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño (National Afro-Caribbean Festival) is an annual cultural celebration held at Ángel "Cuqui" Mangual baseball field [8] [9] in the La Cuarta neighborhood of Barrio Capitanejo in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The celebration, which commonly lasts three days, takes place in late June. It has been called "a world-class" event that brings together "the best exponents of salsa, bomba, plena and merengue music". [10] It is attended by some 30,000 people. [11] The festival's purpose is to positively impact the region by creating a cultural space to help preserve traditions. [12] It aims to highlight the contributions to Puerto Rico culture and society by Puerto Ricans of African heritage. The festivities are highlighted by bands playing salsa, bomba and plena music. [13]
The festival was organized in the late 1990s to counter raising criminal activity in the community of La Cuarta, and to help improve the self-esteem of its residents. "From those humble beginnings" the community "is now a place that smells like tradition." [14] The community of "La Cuarta" is located at the border between Ponce and Juana Diaz. It was founded in the early 20th century next to a sugar cane mill that is now extinct. [15]
Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño is organized and held by Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura. [16] Its leader is Ángel 'Papote' Alvarado Aguilera. Over 20 artists participate during the event's three days' duration. [17] The event's purpose is to promote the Afro-Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean roots of the Puerto Rican people while contributing to the educational and social of growth of the community. [18] Another objective is to "break the social stigma that exists against underpriviledged communities." [19]
Some of the musical groups that have participated in the past include Tommy Olivencia and his band, [20] [21] El Gran Combo, [22] La Sonora Ponceña, [23] Gilberto Santa Rosa, [24] Victor Manuel, [25] and Plena Libre. [26]
The event is free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $1 is encouraged. [27] The entity that organizes the event used to receive a contribution from the Ponce and Juana Diaz municipal governments but, as of 2017, such allowances were halted due to the financial crisis those governments were experiencing. [28] The 2016, and last, contribution form the Ponce Municipal Government was 5% of the total cost of the event. [29]
A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event): [30]
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
External videos | |
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Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño | |
---|---|
![]() Typical poster used to announce the Festival | |
Official name | Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico [1] |
Also called | Festival Afrocaribeño |
Type | Local, cultural |
Celebrations | Music, food, dancing, crafts, rides [2] |
Date | Last weekend of June |
Frequency | Yearly |
First time | 1999 |
Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño (National Afro-Caribbean Festival) is an annual cultural celebration held at Ángel "Cuqui" Mangual baseball field [8] [9] in the La Cuarta neighborhood of Barrio Capitanejo in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The celebration, which commonly lasts three days, takes place in late June. It has been called "a world-class" event that brings together "the best exponents of salsa, bomba, plena and merengue music". [10] It is attended by some 30,000 people. [11] The festival's purpose is to positively impact the region by creating a cultural space to help preserve traditions. [12] It aims to highlight the contributions to Puerto Rico culture and society by Puerto Ricans of African heritage. The festivities are highlighted by bands playing salsa, bomba and plena music. [13]
The festival was organized in the late 1990s to counter raising criminal activity in the community of La Cuarta, and to help improve the self-esteem of its residents. "From those humble beginnings" the community "is now a place that smells like tradition." [14] The community of "La Cuarta" is located at the border between Ponce and Juana Diaz. It was founded in the early 20th century next to a sugar cane mill that is now extinct. [15]
Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño is organized and held by Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura. [16] Its leader is Ángel 'Papote' Alvarado Aguilera. Over 20 artists participate during the event's three days' duration. [17] The event's purpose is to promote the Afro-Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean roots of the Puerto Rican people while contributing to the educational and social of growth of the community. [18] Another objective is to "break the social stigma that exists against underpriviledged communities." [19]
Some of the musical groups that have participated in the past include Tommy Olivencia and his band, [20] [21] El Gran Combo, [22] La Sonora Ponceña, [23] Gilberto Santa Rosa, [24] Victor Manuel, [25] and Plena Libre. [26]
The event is free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $1 is encouraged. [27] The entity that organizes the event used to receive a contribution from the Ponce and Juana Diaz municipal governments but, as of 2017, such allowances were halted due to the financial crisis those governments were experiencing. [28] The 2016, and last, contribution form the Ponce Municipal Government was 5% of the total cost of the event. [29]
A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event): [30]
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
External videos | |
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