Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño

Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño (National Afro-Caribbean Festival) is an annual cultural celebration held at Ángel “Cuqui” Mangual baseball field[4][5] 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".[6] It is attended by some 30,000 people.[7] The festival's purpose is to positively impact the region by creating a cultural space to help preserve traditions.[8] 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.[9]

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
2019 date28-30 June[3]
2020 date26-28 June (Est.)
FrequencyYearly
First time1999

History

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."[10] 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.[11]

Contents and purpose

Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño is organized and held by Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura.[12] Its leader is Ángel ‘Papote’ Alvarado Aguilera. Over 20 artists participate during the event's three days' duration.[13] 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.[14] Another objective is to "break the social stigma that exists against underpriviledged communities."[15]

Some of the musical groups that have participated in the past include Tommy Olivencia and his band,[16][17] El Gran Combo,[18] La Sonora Ponceña,[19] Gilberto Santa Rosa,[20] Victor Manuel,[21] and Plena Libre.[22]

Finances and cost

The event is free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $1 is encouraged.[23] 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.[24] The 2016, and last, contribution form the Ponce Municipal Government was 5% of the total cost of the event.[25]

List of events

A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event):[26]

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 video
See the 2018 festival nacional afrocaribeño 2018 at La Cuarta, here

See also

References
  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. El Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño pondrá a Ponce a bailar. Voces del Sur. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional de Guayama. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Charlie Aponte será homenajeado en Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico. Cartagena, Colombia: El Universal. 25 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  9. 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.
  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. De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  12. 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.
  13. De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  17. Regresa el Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño a Ponce: La 19na edición será este fin de semana en La Cuarta en Ponce. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  18. Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  19. Regresa el Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño a Ponce: La 19na edición será este fin de semana en La Cuarta en Ponce. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  20. Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  21. Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  22. Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  23. De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  24. De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  25. El Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura, Inc. responde a las declaraciones de María “Mayita” Meléndez, Alcaldesa de Ponce. Sol Borincano. n.d. 3 March 2020.
  26. 19no Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño. El Vocero. 30 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
  • Ramon Marin. Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994.

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