Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño

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Coordinates: 18°0′32.688″N 66°32′3.372″W / 18.00908000°N 66.53427000°W / 18.00908000; -66.53427000
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Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño
Typical poster used to announce the Festival
Official nameFestival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico[1]
Also calledFestival Afrocaribeño
TypeLocal, cultural
CelebrationsMusic, food, dancing, crafts, rides[2]
DateLast weekend of June
FrequencyYearly
First time1999

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]

History[edit]

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]

Contents and purpose[edit]

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]

Finances and cost[edit]

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]

List of events[edit]

A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event):[30]

Friday:

8:00 p.m.: Secreto a Voces
9:00 p.m.: Tego Calderón
11:00 pm.: Plenéalo

Saturday:

8:30 p.m.: Bomba Evolución
9:30 p.m.: Homenage to Giovanni Hidalgo y José Mañengue Hidalgo
10:00 p.m.: Grupo Esencia
11:00 p.m.: La Sonora Ponceña

Sunday:

4:00 p.m.: Isabel Albizu Bomba School
6:00 p.m.: Bomba IYA
7:00 p.m.: Homenage to La Cuarta's Past Musicians
7:30 p.m.: Guayacanes de San Antón
8:30 p.m.: Homenage to Ángel "Cholo" Espada
9:30 p.m.: Tommy Olivencia
External videos
video icon See the 2018 festival nacional afrocaribeño 2018 at La Cuarta, here

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Likely, not celebrated due to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on public gatherings.

References[edit]

  1. ^ A celebrar la riqueza afroboricua: La comunidad La Cuarta, en Ponce, acoge este fin de semana el Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico. El Nuevo Dia. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  2. ^ Se enciende Ponce al ritmo afrocaribeño. Héctor Iván Cabrera. InstintoPR. 26 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  3. ^ Ponce celebra el 17mo Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño 2015: Ya tú sabes la consiga: “¿Y tu abuela… a dónde está?”. Las raíces afrocaribeñas de nuestro pueblo son herencia de todos. Ven a conocerlas y a celebrarlas con orgullo este fin de semana.. Primera Hora. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  4. ^ 19no Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño: This event occurred on Friday, June 30th, 2017 @ 8:00 pm – 12:00 am. El Vocero. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  5. ^ Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño del barrio La Cuarta. Voces del Sur. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  6. ^ El Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño pondrá a Ponce a bailar. Voces del Sur. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  7. ^ Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño 2021: En El Barrio La Cuarta En Ponce. MiAgendaPR.com Accessed 17 December 2021. Archived.
  8. ^ Ponce celebra el 17mo Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño 2015: Ya tú sabes la consiga: “¿Y tu abuela… a dónde está?”. Las raíces afrocaribeñas de nuestro pueblo son herencia de todos. Ven a conocerlas y a celebrarlas con orgullo este fin de semana. Primera Hora. 23 June 2015. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  9. ^ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional de Guayama. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  10. ^ Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño penderá a Ponce: A pesar del brillo que genera un evento como este, el camino para lograrlo a veces se ha convertido en una lucha constante, a juzgar por las dificultades que enfrentan sus organizadores. Sandra Torres Guzmán. Primera Hora. 20 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  11. ^ Regresa el Festival Nacional Afro-Caribeño: Esta decimocuarta edición del evento sigue teniendo como objetivo fomentar nuestra raíces afro-boricuas y afro-caribeñas. Primera Hora. 26 June 2012. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  12. ^ Charlie Aponte será homenajeado en Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico. Cartagena, Colombia: El Universal. 25 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  13. ^ A celebrar en Ponce el 18th Festival Nacional Afro Caribeno. Ricardo Ramirez. El Laurel Sureno. 17–30 June 2016. p. 3. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  14. ^ Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño penderá a Ponce: A pesar del brillo que genera un evento como este, el camino para lograrlo a veces se ha convertido en una lucha constante, a juzgar por las dificultades que enfrentan sus organizadores. Sandra Torres Guzmán. Primera Hora. 20 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  15. ^ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  16. ^ Ponce celebra el 17mo Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño 2015: Ya tú sabes la consiga: “¿Y tu abuela… a dónde está?”. Las raíces afrocaribeñas de nuestro pueblo son herencia de todos. Ven a conocerlas y a celebrarlas con orgullo este fin de semana. Primera Hora. 23 June 2015. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  17. ^ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  18. ^ Regresa el Festival Nacional Afro-Caribeño: Esta decimocuarta edición del evento sigue teniendo como objetivo fomentar nuestra raíces afro-boricuas y afro-caribeñas. Primera Hora. 26 June 2012. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  19. ^ Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño penderá a Ponce: A pesar del brillo que genera un evento como este, el camino para lograrlo a veces se ha convertido en una lucha constante, a juzgar por las dificultades que enfrentan sus organizadores. Sandra Torres Guzmán. Primera Hora. 20 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  20. ^ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  21. ^ Regresa el Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño a Ponce: La 19na edición será este fin de semana en La Cuarta en Ponce. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  22. ^ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  23. ^ Regresa el Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño a Ponce: La 19na edición será este fin de semana en La Cuarta en Ponce. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  24. ^ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  25. ^ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  26. ^ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  27. ^ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  28. ^ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Archived 3 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  29. ^ El Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura, Inc. responde a las declaraciones de María “Mayita” Meléndez, Alcaldesa de Ponce. Sol Borincano. n.d. 3 March 2020.
  30. ^ 19no Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño. El Vocero. 30 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.

External links[edit]

  • Ramon Marin. Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994.

18°0′32.688″N 66°32′3.372″W / 18.00908000°N 66.53427000°W / 18.00908000; -66.53427000

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