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[3][4] 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".[5] It is attended by some 30,000 people.[6] The festival's purpose is to positively impact the region by creating a cultural space to help preserve traditions.[7] 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.[8]

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."[9] 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.[10]

Contents and purpose

Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño is organized and held by Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura.[11] Its leader is Ángel 'Papote' Alvarado Aguilera. Over 20 artists participate during the event's three days' duration.[12] 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.[13] Another objective is to "break the social stigma that exists against underpriviledged communities."[14]

Some of the musical groups that have participated in the past include Tommy Olivencia and his band,[15][16] El Gran Combo,[17] La Sonora Ponceña,[18] Gilberto Santa Rosa,[19] Victor Manuel,[20] and Plena Libre.[21]

Finances and cost

The event is free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $1 is encouraged.[22] 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.[23] The 2016, and last, contribution form the Ponce Municipal Government was 5% of the total cost of the event.[24]

List of events

A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event):[25]

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

Notes

    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. ↑ 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.
    4. ↑ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional de Guayama. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    5. ↑ 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.
    6. ↑ 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.
    7. ↑ Charlie Aponte será homenajeado en Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico. Cartagena, Colombia: El Universal. 25 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    8. ↑ 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.
    9. ↑ 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.
    10. ↑ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    11. ↑ 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.
    12. ↑ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    13. ↑ 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.
    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. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    16. ↑ 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.
    17. ↑ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
    18. ↑ 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.
    19. ↑ Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. 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. ↑ De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. 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. ↑ El Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura, Inc. responde a las declaraciones de María “Mayita” Meléndez, Alcaldesa de Ponce. Sol Borincano. n.d. 3 March 2020.
    25. ↑ 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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