ZeyZey, Community Arts and Culture, and Tigre present Novalima at Afro Roots Fest March 29

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The pioneering Afro-Peruvian sound system are celebrating their 20th anniversary and latest release La Danza and an exclusive performance at the Miami live music hotspot

Miami Beach – February 13, 2024 – Latin Grammy nominees and worldwide ambassadors of the neuvo Afro-Peruvian sound Novalima are set to perform at ZeyZey (353 NE 61st St, Miami, FL 33137) as part of Afro Roots Fest on Friday, March 29, 2024, beginning at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome and tickets are now available online at bit.ly/ARFM2024Novalima.This programming is part of the 26th season of the award-winning Afro Roots Fest, with additional concerts scheduled in March and April for Miami Beach, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada, and is powered by airline partner Spirit Airlines.

Novalima spent part of the 2020 lockdown in the studio experimenting with new sounds from their homeland and the world. Their latest release La Danza combines not only from their Afro-Peruvian heritage but also from the diverse African diaspora around the world. This diversity has exploded in recent years birthing new urban languages. On this new album, released in May 2023, Novalima went one step further by exploring the new generation of artists around the world who reinterpret their African heritage.

While their sound is futuristic and cutting-edge, the roots of Novalima’s music reach back hundreds of years. In a far-too familiar tale, African slaves were brought to Peru as early as the 1500s until the middle of the 19th Century, establishing an outpost of the African-Diaspora on the Pacific coast of South America. Over the years, the soul and rhythms of Africa melded with the melodies and instruments of Europe and the Andes. The result is rich musical repertoire that existed for generations on the periphery of Peruvian popular culture.

For the 20th anniversary tour, Novalima has prepared a highly energetic live show that takes the audience on a journey through all their previous albums from 2006’s Afro to 2018’s Ch’usay. The tunes have been rearranged from the original studio versions, capturing the audience’s attention from beginning to end. The gradual increase in intensity acts like a wave, lifting up the crowd on a hypnotic journey thru time and history, resulting in a crescendo of non-stop dancing. Novalima sounds and feels greater than ever before.

ZeyZey is a music venue and cultural hub featuring craft cocktails, natural wines and rotating food from local chefs. A vibrant and immersive world of sound and color, both intimate and expansive, the venue’s beverage program is crafted by Esther Merino, a globally recognized beverage consultant and recipe developer, along with the Grassfed Culture team, presents a unique spin on traditional cocktails. Their food vendors Atomica Roots and Maná Table, are entrepreneurs and passionate individuals who continue to push for their dreams to become a reality.

Additional support provided by the Florida Division of Arts and Culture and the Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com or contact ZeyZey at 305-456-2671.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest: Afro-Cuban Convening returns to Gainesville April 5 and 6

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The two-day event features Orisa, rumba, and Abakua concerts, short films, and master workshops with Lazaro Galarraga, Roman Diaz, Sandy Perez, Barbarito Ramos, Angel Guerrero, and Chief Ivor Miller

Gainesville, FL – March 12, 2024 – Afro Roots Fest returns to North Florida on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, 2024 for a two-day convening, which includes concerts, dance and drum workshops, short music documentaries, and a dance party. Tickets are available at bit.ly/ARF2024Gainesville. This year’s gathering will focus on the lineage and migration of the religious tradition known as Abakua from Calabar, Nigeria to Cuba, which gave rise to the rumba, one of Cuba’s principal musical traditions.

The first day will feature events at the University of Florida School of School of Music (130 Music Building) and the Greater Gainesville International Center (1314 S. Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601), followed by a dance party at Depot Village (404 SE 2nd St, Gainesville, FL 32601). Activities will include Afro-Latin movie shorts about Cuba and Brazil followed by a lecture and discussion, a master African dance and drum, Afro-Cuban percussion with a focus on clave, sekere, bells, congas, and bata, and a master Orisa and rumba dance workshop.

The next evening, the Odara Afro Cuban Allstars will perform two concerts at the Hippodrome Theatre (25 SE 2nd Pl, Gainesville, FL 32601). The first show at 7 p.m. presents Orisa and rumba, and the second show at 9 p.m. will focus on the Abakua traditions. Featured artists include a group of Afro-Cuban masters and scholars: Lazaro GalarragaRoman DiazSandy Perez, Barbarito RamosAngel Guerrero, and Chief Ivor Miller. The event will also include a film screening of the documentary “Roman Diaz – Como el Agua” by Onel Mulet, which offers an intimate look at the renowned Cuban master drummer and jazz musician.

A teacher, performing artist, actor, writer, choreographer, and mentor, Galarraga has dedicated his life to his love of Afro-Cuban music, culture, and folklore. Master percussionist, scholar, and composer Diaz is regarded as a “living repository” of Afro-Cuban music. After a 12-year stint with the group with Afrocuba de Matanzas, Perez is now one of the best-known and most talented percussionists from the Matanzas province.

A member of Los Munequitos de Matanzas, Ramos is a colorful master Orisa and rumba dancer. Guerrero is an important Abakua chanter from Pogolotti, Havana. Miller is a scholar focused on Cuban cultural history with a focus on Lukumi-Yoruba initiation systems of Ocha and Ifa (Santería) in Cuban society. Together they will deliver an unforgettable night of music, history, and tradition at the Hippodrome. Additional artists to be featured.

Originating in 1999, the Afro Roots Fest has been noted as one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times in 2017 and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers have included African music icons Amadou & MariamFatoumata DiawaraSalif KeitaVieux Farka Toure, and Sun Ra Arkestra, among many others. In 2018, the event became a traveling Florida festival presenting concerts in Jupiter, Miami Beach, Miami, Gainesville, and the Florida Keys. 

This program is presented with the generous support of City of GainesvilleUniversity of Florida Center for Arts Migration and Entrepreneurship (CAME), Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Greater Gainesville International Center, the UF Center for Latin American Studies, the School of Theatre + DanceSchool of Music, and the College of the Arts. Sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville – Alachua County, FL.

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Oumou Sangare Headlines Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach March 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mali “Songbird of Wassalou” performs show at Miami Beach Bandshell as part of award-winning, nomadic music festival

Miami Beach – February 6, 2024 – One of West Africa’s most beloved chanteuses Oumou Sangare is coming to the Miami Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141) for an exclusive concert during Afro Roots Fest on March 30, 2024, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for the show featuring selections from her 2023 release Timbuktu at bit.ly/ARFMB2024Sangare; reserved seating is available and all ages are welcome. This is the 26th season of Afro Roots Fest, and additional concerts scheduled in March and April for Miami Beach, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada. 

In March 2020, shortly after the International Wassoulou Festival (FIWA), an event Oumou launched in 2016 to promote her birth region in southern Mali, the artist traveled to the United States. She’d only planned to stay only a few weeks but then COVID lockdown struck, first in New York, then in Baltimore, a place where she quickly felt at home. “Something in that city drew me in straightaway. I felt so good there that I bought a house!” Once settled into her new abode, she spent her days writing songs with the help of an old friend, Mamadou Sidibé, who has been Oumou Sangare’s kamele n’goni (traditional lute) player since the very beginning of her artistic career.

This period of enforced seclusion gave birth to ten of the eleven songs on Timbuktu. The album weaves intimate sonic connections between traditional West African musical instruments associated with the blues, most notably the kamele n’goni and its distant heirs, the Dobro and slide guitar. “Since 1990, I’ve never had a chance to cut myself off from the world and devote myself exclusively to music,” she says. “I think you feel it in the music, but also in the lyrics which are fruit of all those moments when I was able to withdraw into myself and meditate.”

Timbuktu consecrates this artist who rose up from the ghettos of Bamako, Mali’s capital, to become a global superstar and internatonal feminist icon. The first single “Wassulo Don” was issued March 8, also known as International Women’s Day, on World Circuit Records. The track fuses Oumou’s distinctive Malian sound and voice with elements of blues and rock to create a joyous groove. It’s Oumou’s an expression of hometown pride for Wassulu, an area in the south-western corner of Mali where Oumou’s family originates from.

Since the release of her debut album Moussoulou in 1989, there’s been no respite for the Malian singer. Notable waymarks on her rich and fruitful journey include some of the most definitive recordings in the history of contemporary African music: “Ko Sira” in 1993, “Worotan” in 1996 and “Seya” in 2009, the latter nominated for a Grammy Award. Counting among her many notable fans Alicia KeysAya Nakamura and Beyoncé (who sampled the classic “Diaraby Nene” for her 2019 Lion King release), Sangaré has long since broken through barriers that separate continents and musical styles. 

She also released the singles “Sarama” and “Sira“. Click here to learn more about the artist; high resolution images are available here. Event support provided by Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Miami Beach.

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com or contact the Miami Beach Bandshell at 786-453-2897.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Living Cuban Legend Eliades Ochoa Headlines Afro Roots Fest Miami Beach March 16

Buena Vista Social Club star performs ticketed event at Miami Beach Bandshell as part of ongoing, nomadic music festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Miami Beach – January 16, 2024 – Tickets are on sale now for a very special concert featuring one of the founders of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club, singer / guitarist / songwriter Eliades Ochoa. The concert will take place Saturday, March 16, 2024 at the Miami Beach Bandshell (7275 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33141), beginning at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome and reserved seats are available online at bit.ly/ARFMB2024OchoaAfro Roots Fest is in year 26, with additional concerts scheduled in March and April for Miami Beach, Gainesville, Jupiter, and Islamorada. 

Ochoa will be performing songs from his new album Guajiro, out now on World Circuit Records, which was produced by Demetrio Muñiz and features guest appearances by Rubén BladesJoan As Police Woman, and Charlie MusselwhiteGuajiro cements his reputation as one of the most vital artists to come out of Cuba in the last century. Eliades is well known and loved worldwide as one of the original members of BVSC, having famously lent his vocals to that album’s iconic opener “Chan Chan”. In the wake of the super group’s phenomenal reception, Ochoa has released nine albums, won four Latin Grammys, and received a Grammy nomination for 2010’s Afrocubism.

The rugged features, the signature hat, the cowboy boots, and the iconic ‘man in black’ image. The songs from the school of life are imbued with the sort of hard-earned, country-tinged wisdom that can’t be bought. You don’t have to look or listen too hard to understand why Eliades Ochoa is often called “Cuba’s Johnny Cash”. Yet if parallels abound, his new album also shows him to be a singular voice with his own unique style and sound, rooted deep in the Cuban tradition but with an appeal that is as timeless as it is universal.

“We’re thrilled to be able to launch this year’s Afro Roots Fest with an artist as iconic as Eliades Ochoa,” says Jose Elias, founder and artistic director for the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture. “He’s one of the remaining voices of the Buena Vista Social Club and someone whose contributions to the world of Cuban music have been very significant.”

Afro Roots Fest got its start at the now-defunct Tobacco Road in 1999. It has historically celebrated the widespread influence that Africa continues to have on music and furthers the mission of Community Arts and Culture, which present the arts as a tool for education. It is as much about root African culture as it is about the syncretism of it with Western cultural traditions. Past performers have included Amadou & MariamSun Ra ArkestraAlsarahFatoumata DiawaraFulu MizikiSalif KeitaVieux Farka ToureToubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others.

Established in 2002, Community Arts and Culture is a 501(c)3 Miami-based nonprofit organization that strives to intergenerationally celebrate and inspire the community through the cultivation, preservation, and presentation of cultural music and arts. Through music-based workshops, lectures, performances, and after-school youth programs, CAC provides under-served areas of South Florida with an accessible platform to participate in cultural programs and experiences.

March 30 will see the debut of the “Songbird of Wassalou” Oumou Sangare from Mali, also at the Miami Beach Bandshell. More details about additional Afro Roots Fest dates and artists are coming soon. Event support provided by the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Miami Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the City of Miami Beach, and the Rhythm Foundation. 

Eliades will be available for interviews the week prior to the show; high resolution images are available here.

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com or contact the Miami Beach Bandshell at 786-453-2897.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest concludes 25th anniversary season with a weekend in Islamorada May 19-21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Three consecutive days of free concerts at the Florida Keys Brewing Company featuring Electric Kif, Cortadito, Miamibloco, Nag Champayons with Johnny Dread, and Grupo Barro Abajo

Islamorada, FL – May 2, 2023 – One of SouthFlorida’s longest-running music festivals Afro Roots Fest will wrap its 25th anniversary season with a weekend of free concerts in Islamorada at the Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036). The weekend kicks off at 6 p.m. in the beer garden on Friday, May 19, 2023, with a performance by Electric Kif, and continues with Cortadito and Miamibloco on Saturday, May 20, 6 p.m. Finally, the Nag Champayons and special guest Johnny Dread plus Grupo Barrio Abajo close things out on Sunday, May 21, 2 p.m. All performances are free and open to the public of all ages.

“We couldn’t think of a better way or place to end the season than with this amazingly diverse presentation of cultures at one of the finest breweries in all of Florida,” says Afro Roots Fest founder and Nag Champayons guitarist and bandleader Jose Elias. “I’m proud to continue to fulfill the mission of our nonprofit to bring African-influenced culture to underserved locations and invite everyone to come enjoy a full weekend’s worth of incredibly talented musical presentations.” Elias is also the executive director of the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC), the organization behind Afro Roots Fest, as well as the bandleader and tres player in Cortadito..  

The Nag Champayons are Frank Zappa and Serge Gainsbourg wrestling Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. It’s Sonic Youth’s plane crashing into Fela Kuti’s boat in the Everglades on the hottest day of summer. “Afro-Floyd,” said one listener. The group began in the early 2000s as an improvisational collective whose name came from the burning of Nag Champa incense during early jams. The group is currently in the studio recording the follow up to the 2015 release Rising Sounds of a Sinking City and 2016 single “Brazilian LSD”. Johnny quite simply transcends reggae music into a unique blend of world beat rhythms. His musical influences are as diverse as his Rasta, Cuban-American background.

Electric Kif are a Miami-based power quartet that explore the boundaries between rock, jazz fusion and electronic drum & bass. Made up of bassist Rodrigo Zambrano, keyboardist Jason Matthews, drummer Armando Lopez, and guitarist Eric Escanes, the band has garnered attention of the live music scene for their eclectic take on groove and their own brand of ‘post-nuclear music’. Their most recent album Dreamlike is Electric Kif’s 4th full length LP and features international heavy hitters Aaron Parks and Chris Bullock of Snarky Puppy. In May they also released a special single collaboration with Adam Deitch.

Since their origin ten years ago, Cortadito has become torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. This dynamic ensemble lead by Elias and co-founder / guitarist / vocalist Julio Cesar Rodriguez Delet, leads audiences through “The Guajiro Triangle”, an audio experience spanning the three cities of Miami, Havana, and Santiago, representing the group’s origins.

Co-led by Brian Potts and suOm Francis, Miamibloco is a Samba percussion community nonprofit that turns Afro-Brazilian music and rhythms into the cultural glue that binds Miami’s unique diverse communities together. Their mission is to help people connect, learn, grow, and thrive for a more joyful and equitable Miami through performance and education. They host the seasonal Saideira Social at The Miami Beach Bandshell, where the Miamibloco performance group Bateria Saideira collaborates on stage with high caliber local, Brazilian, and international musicians including Samir Langus, Munir Hossn, Gilmar Gomes, Musiana, Magela Herrera, Oigo, and Mauricio Baia.

Group Barrio Abajo seeks to raise international awareness of the folkloric musical heritage of the Caribbean Colombia by presenting styles such as cumbia, bullerengue, porro, chandé, and more than 30 other unparalleled musical rhythms. Globally, their home country is known for cumbia and vallenato, but these are just two parts of their musically diverse heritage. Barrio Abajo has performed at various editions of Afro Roots Fest, and is a regular favorite at CAC events.

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Tobacco Road bar in Miami, Afro Roots Fest has been named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers include Amadou & Mariam, Sun Ra Arkestra, Alsarah, Fatoumata Diawara, Fulu Miziki, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure, Toubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others. Since 2018, the festival has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate events in markets such as Gainesville, North Miami, Doral, Hollywood, Islamorada, and Key West.

This year’s edition of the award-winning festival is generously supported by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District, and Keys ICE.

More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming. For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Koubek Center hosts the Inheritants Project: Afro Roots 2023 workshops and jam session April 16 

MEDIA ALERT

Miami, FL – April 6, 2023 – The Inheritants Project: Afro Roots 2023 workshops and jam session take place in Little Havana on Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., presented by Community Arts and Culture and the Koubek Center. Launched in 2012, the Inheritants Project is the youth component of the nonprofit Community Arts and Culture, and is a Miami-based, Afro-Indigenous music and dance youth program.

Planned activities include a sekere-making class led by Eddie Osborne from Pan-African Arts, a ukelele class by Ameyal, the Afro-Mexican ensemble, a break dance class with Luis Junior Vitale, and a jam session with teaching artists including Lazaro “Tato” Alfonsorumbero, and one of the founders of the Cuban fusion legends Irakere. Since space is limited, RSVPs are required.

Who: Community Arts and Culture and the Koubek Center

What: Community Arts and Culture | Inheritants Project Afro Roots

When: Sunday, April 16, 2023

Where: 2705 SW 3rd Street, Miami, FL 33135

RSVP: bit.ly/ARFIP2023

Event support provided by Community Arts and Culture, The Koubek Center, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural AffairsMiami Dade College, and Florida Arts and Culture.



More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest “Miami Week” visits Little Havana, Doral, and North Miami April 16, 20, and 22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free workshops and live music performances to be held at the Koubeck Center, Doral Yard, and Oak Grove Park during the touring festival’s 25th anniversary

Miami, FL – April 4, 2023 – One of South Florida’s longest-running music festivals will host three Miami-based events during one week’s time. This year’s edition of Afro Roots Fest is the 25th overall, and the nomadic event series plans a workshop at the Koubek Center in Little Havana on Sunday, April 16, 2 p.m., live music at the Doral Yard Thursday, April 20 at 7 p.m., and live music plus a DJ at Oak Grove Park on Saturday, April 22, beginning at 3 p.m. All events are free and open to the public of all ages, with and RSVP being required for the Koubek and Oak Grove events due to space limitations.

“These three events get to the heart of our mission, which is to offer the community a wide diversity of programming,” says Afro Roots Fest founder and Cortadito vocalist, tres player, and bandleader Jose Elias. “I’m proud to offer it in partnership with the wonderful Miami-Dade County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Open SpacesMiami Dade College, and Miami Light Project.” Elias is also the executive director of the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC), the organization behind Afro Roots Fest. 

First up is the Inheritants Project: Afro Roots 2023 workshops and jam session taking place at 2705 SW 3rd Street, Miami, FL 33135 on Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., and presented by Community Arts and Culture and the Koubek Center. Launched in 2012, the Inheritants Project is the youth component of CAC, and is an Afro-Indigenous music and dance youth program.

Planned activities include a sekere-making class led by Eddie Osborne from Pan-African Arts, a ukelele class by Ameyal, the Afro-Mexican ensemble, a break dance class with Luis Junior Vitale, and a jam session with teaching artists including Lazaro “Tato” Alfonsorumbero, and one of the founders of the Cuban fusion legends Irakere. Since space is limited, RSVPs are required. RSVPs required online to bit.ly/ARFIP2023.  

Next, join Cortadito and Friends for an unforgettable evening of music on the Backyard Stage at the Doral Yard (8455 Northwest 53rd Street, Doral, FL 33178) on Thursday, April 20 beginning at 7 p.m. This one night only show will feature a variety of guest artists, and an expanded conjunto version of the band with an added horn section and percussionist. Since their origin ten years ago, Cortadito have become torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong.

A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club.

Finally, master drummer and Haitian roots music legend Sanba Zao will perform at the Father Gerard Jean-Juste Community Center in Oak Grove Park (690 NE 159th St, Miami, FL 33162), along with the Senegalese Griot and Kora master Morikeba Kouyate beginning at 3 p.m. DJ Kumi will be on hand to spin records before and in between acts. Space is limited to the first 100 attendees who RSVP online at bit.ly/ARFNM2023.

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Tobacco Road bar in Miami, Afro Roots Fest has been named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers include Amadou & MariamSun Ra ArkestraAlsarahFatoumata DiawaraFulu MizikiSalif KeitaVieux Farka ToureToubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others. Since 2018, the festival has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate events in markets such as Gainesville, North Miami, Doral, Hollywood, Islamorada, and Key West.

More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest to Highlight Multicultural Rhythms in Key West April 27-28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eclectic, traveling music festival celebrates its 25th year with performances by the Nag Champayons + Tomas Diaz and Cortadito

Key West, FL – April 3, 2023 – Audiences can enjoy multicultural musical events in Key West Thursday and Friday, April 27-28, during the annual Afro Roots Fest.

The cultural kaleidoscope is to begin Thursday with two performances by Tomas Diaz and the Nag Champayons at the Green Parrot Bar (601 Whitehead St.).

A Latin Grammy Award nominee, Diaz has appeared with artists ranging from Celia Cruz to Bruce Springsteen. He and the Nag Champayons, known for their “Afrogalactic Tropidelic” sound, join forces to present an unforgettable musical experience.

Shows are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the landmark bar. There is no cover charge and everyone age 21 and over is welcome.

The Studios of Key West (533 Eaton St.) is the setting for a Friday night concert by Cortadito, a Cuban folk and country band known for its mastery of the Afro-Cuban musical form known as Son. Cortadito’s traditional stylings have evoked comparisons to Cuba’s iconic Buena Vista Social Club.

The 8 p.m. show is to take place in the Helmerich Theater. Tickets are $50 per person ($40 for Studios of Key West members) and can be purchased at bit.ly/ARFKW2023.  

The Key West events highlight the 25th season of the Afro Roots World Music Festival, an exploration of cultural experiences through performances, programs and outreach at locations around Florida.

The festival is staged by Community Arts and Culture. Now in its 20th year, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to increasing understanding through the cultivation, preservation and presentation of diverse cultural music and arts offerings.

Festival information: AfroRootsFest.com.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest returns to Jupiter featuring Locos Por Juana, Cortadito, Sanba Zao, and Miamibloco April 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Eclectic, traveling music festival celebrates its 25th year with a diverse lineup of music representing Colombia, Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil, as well as selections by DJ Ephniko

Jupiter, FL – March 28, 2023 – One of South Florida’s longest-running music festivals will once again return to Guabanabas Island Restaurant & Bar (940 US Hwy A1A, Jupiter, FL 33147) on April 15, 2023. This year’s edition of Afro Roots Fest, number 25 overall, will feature live music by Locos Por JuanaCortaditoSanba Zao, and Miamibloco beginning at 4 p.m. The event is co-presented by Roots MusicInc. and is free and open to all ages before 9 p.m. 21 and over welcome after.

“I’m always excited to bring the festival back to Jupiter,” says Afro Roots Fest founder and Cortadito vocalist, tres player, and bandleader Jose Elias. “The support we get from the venue, staff, and the community at large is everything. We are looking forward to presenting an afternoon and evening of multicultural musical acts in an always enchanting setting.” Elias is also the executive director of the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture, the organization behind Afro Roots Fest.  

“This is one our favorite events of the year celebrating the unique artists representing the world music scene. This is one of our best lineups since inception, in my opinion,” says Talent Buyer and Roots Music principal Matt Cahur, who is a musician and the lead audio engineer for the venue.

Locos Por Juana is a GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY nominated bilingual band most notably recognized for their high energy live performances and unique fusion of reggae, funk, cumbia, salsa, and rock. The band, featuring Itawe Correa as its charismatic lead vocalist, talented guitarist Mark Kondrat, innovative drummer Javier Delgado, and electrifying bass player David Pransky, write and produce all of their own music. Their sound can best be described as having “that island swing”.

Since their origin ten years ago, Cortadito has become torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed Buena Vista Social Club. This dynamic ensemble lead by Elias and co-founder / guitarist / vocalist Julio Cesar Rodriguez Delet, leads audiences through “The Guajiro Triangle”, an audio experience spanning the three cities of Miami, Havana, and Santiago, representing the group’s origins.

Born Louis Lesly Marcelin, Sanba Zao is a master drummer and Haitian roots music legend. He is also a professor at L’Ecole National des Arts, Haiti’s national arts school, and has devoted his life to teaching and promoting the culture and music of Haiti. Marcelin runs an elementary school called the Bazilo Ecole Communautairei, which was one of the first to reopen after the 2010 earthquake that devastated his home country. Sanba Zao has also sings and tours with Lakou Mizik, and performed with other Haitian groups such as Group SaFoula Jazz, and Djakata.

Founded by Brian Potts in 2017, Miamibloco turns Afro-Brazilian music and rhythms into the cultural glue that binds Miami’s unique diverse communities together. Their mission is to help people connect, learn, grow, and thrive for a more joyful and equitable Miami through performance and education. They host the seasonal Brazilian Social, as well as beginner and intermediate percussion workshops and classes throughout the Magic City. In Miamibloco, everyone has an instrument and each one is as important as the next for collective sound. 

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Tobacco Road bar in Miami, Afro Roots Fest has been named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times and crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers include Amadou & Mariam, Sun Ra Arkestra, Alsarah, Fatoumata DiawaraFulu MizikiSalif KeitaVieux Farka ToureToubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others. Since 2018, the event has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate events in markets such as Gainesville, North Miami, Doral, Hollywood, Islamorada, and Key West.

In addition to DJing, Ephniko is also an MC who fronts the six-man audio/visual collective Nag Champayons, a group that began as an improvisational collective that drew from African, Caribbean, hip-hop, rock and jazz influences. He also leads the Patacon Conspiracy, which fuses hip-hop and raw lyricism with Pan-African and Latin American rhythms to create a worldbeat sound.

Opened by Jupiter surfers as a sandwich shop in 2004, Guanabanas has grown to become an institution in northern Palm Beach County for three reasons: the lush, tropical setting; great cuisine and cocktails; and live music from both national acts and the hottest names in South Florida. The venue has now hosted an Afro Roots Fest event each year since 2018. 

More information about the festival is available at AfroRootsFest.com. Learn more about the venue at Guanabanas.com

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming.

For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com


Afro Roots Fest returns to Gainesville for a two-day Afro-Cuban convening

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free, all-ages concert at Bo Diddley Plaza follows a full day of song, dance, and drum workshops, and a lecture / artist panel at the University of Florida

Gainesville, FL – March 14, 2023 – The long-running, award-winning Afro Roots Fest is coming back to North Florida on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, 2023 for a two-day convening that includes workshops, lectures, and a free, family-friendly concert. The first day, clinical component is a ticketed event at the University of Florida School of Theater and Dance (1800 McCarty Drive Gainesville, FL 32603). The next evening, a concert takes place at Bo Diddley Plaza (111 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601) featuring Jacaré Brazil, the UF Afropop Ensemble with special guest Titos Sompa, and the Odara Conjunto Folklorico beginning at 7 p.m.

“We’re thrilled to continue developing this relationship that we have with the University of Florida School of the Arts,” says Jose Elias, founder and executive director for presenting organization Community Arts and Culture. “This will be the first time the festival incorporates a more academic approach to our presentations. The caliber of artists that are participating in this program is unprecedented. We look forward to continuing to make this an annual destination event in Gainesville.”

Workshops and lectures include “Songs in Lukumi for Eleggua and Yemaya”, Afro-Cuban Dance classes like Rumba and Orisa for Yemaya, an all-levels percussion class that focus on guiro and bembe, a lecture about the sacred Bata, and an all-cast artist panel with a Q&A. Florida residents can enjoy a 50% discount on tickets by using the promo code “FloridaResident” and presenting a valid Florida ID on the day of event. Preregistration is required – there will be no options to pay for the workshops on the day of. Attendees should allow extra time to park on site and check in, which begin 30 minutes before class.

Jacaré Brazil provides a unique interpretation of Brazilian music through its usage and mixture of various Brazilian instrumental musical genres and rhythms such as the choro, waltz, maxixe, samba-choro, and bossa-jazz. The distinctive blend of musical instruments such as the violin, mandolin, saxophone, guitar, pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine), and voices create nostalgic sentiments with colorful and brilliant textures. Its repertoire celebrates and reminds us of Brazil’s rich music scenario, and is a vibrant part of the World Music and Graduate Program in Ethnomusicology at UF.

Founded in 2021, UF’s African Popular Music Ensemble specializes in the popular music of the African continent, with a special focus on Afrobeat, highlife, soukous, and African jazz. The ensemble, directed by Sarah Politz and Kenneth Metzker – both Affiliate Faculty in the Center for Arts Migration and Entrepreneurship – features students from the School of Music, musicians from the Gainesville community, and selected guest artists. Sompa, the colorful master dancer, choreographer, drummer, and healer was born in Brazzaville, Congo. He founded the band Les Echos Noir, which he still tours with, and is widely credited as a champion of the distinctive Congolese sound.

Odara Conjunto Folklorico is an all-star group comprised of all of of the individuals leading workshops on Friday: Yudisleidy Valdes, dancer, Ernesto El GatoGatell, vocals, Roman Diaz, percussion, Sandy Perez, percussion, and Alain Fernandez, vocals. Afro-Cuban music fans can expect an explosive performance of traditional Yoruba chants and rhythms, mixed in with Latin jazz and a fusion of other world music influences.

Originating in 1999 at the now defunct Miami live music venue Tobacco Road, the Afro Roots Fest has become one of the area’s longest-running music festivals. Named one of the “10 Best Music Festivals in Miami” by the Miami New Times in 2017, it was crowned the “Best Music Festival” in the 2019 “Best of Miami” issue. Past performers have included Sun Ra Arkestra, Alsarah, Fatoumata Diawara, Fulu Miziki, Salif Keita, Vieux Farka Toure, Toubab Krewe, and Roberto Torres, among many others.

Since 2018, the event has become a nomadic affair that now includes separate concerts in markets such as Gainesville, Jupiter, Doral, Hollywood, Islamorada, and Key West. 

Tickets for the workshop day are available online at bit.ly/ARFG2023. Funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County.

For more information, visit AfroRootsFest.com.

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ABOUT COMMUNITY ARTS & CULTURE

Incorporated in September 2002, Community Arts and Culture, Inc. is a Miami-based nonprofit organization that fosters an appreciation and understanding of a vast assortment of arts and cultures through workshops, lectures, and artistic performances in local communities for individuals of all ages and social backgrounds. The organization is celebrating 20 years of serving the community in 2022. Their signature event, Afro Roots Fest, is embarking on its 25th season of programming. For more information, please visit CACMiami.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Mut Communications
Michael Mut
786.426.2277
info@mutcomm.com