Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño (National Afro-Caribbean Festival) is an annual cultural celebration held at Ángel "Cuqui" Mangual baseball fieldPonce 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.Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional de Guayama. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020. 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".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. It is attended by some 30,000 people.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. The festival's purpose is to positively impact the region by creating a cultural space to help preserve traditions.Charlie Aponte será homenajeado en Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño de Puerto Rico. Cartagena, Colombia: El Universal. 25 June 2019. Accessed 3 March 2020. 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.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.
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."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. 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.De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
Contents and purpose Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño is organized and held by Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura.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. Its leader is Ángel 'Papote' Alvarado Aguilera. Over 20 artists participate during the event's three days' duration.De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020. 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.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. Another objective is to "break the social stigma that exists against underpriviledged communities."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.
Some of the musical groups that have participated in the past include Tommy Olivencia and his band,De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.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. El Gran Combo,Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020. La Sonora Ponceña,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. Gilberto Santa Rosa,Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020. Victor Manuel,Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020. and Plena Libre.Celebran dos décadas del Festival Afrocaribeño. Pablo Félix. El Regional. 27 June 2018. Accessed 3 March 2020.
Finances and cost The event is free to the public, but a voluntary donation of $1 is encouraged.De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020. 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.De fiesta La Cuarta con el Festival Afrocaribeño. Angelique Fragoso Quiñones. EsNoticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 22 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020. The 2016, and last, contribution form the Ponce Municipal Government was 5% of the total cost of the event.El Comité Pro Nuestra Cultura, Inc. responde a las declaraciones de María “Mayita” Meléndez, Alcaldesa de Ponce. Sol Borincano. n.d. 3 March 2020.
List of events A typical music lineup is as follows (this was the music lineup for the 2017 event):19no Festival Nacional Afrocaribeño. El Vocero. 30 June 2017. Accessed 3 March 2020.
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
See also Feria de Artesanías de Ponce Ponce Jazz Festival Fiesta Nacional de la Danza Día Mundial de Ponce Festival Nacional de la Quenepa Bienal de Arte de Ponce Festival de Bomba y Plena de San Antón Carnaval de Vejigantes Fiestas patronales de Ponce
Notes
References
External links Ramon Marin. Las Fiestas Populares de Ponce. Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico. 1994.