JULY 17-27, 2003
MUSICIANS, DANCERS, AND PERFORMERS GATHER FROM ALL OVER THE CARIBBEAN FOR TEN DAYS OF MUSIC AND DANCE

image courtesy mexcom.net

One of Mexico's best-kept secrets is the steamy Afrocaribbean Music Festival held each July in the Mexican port city of Veracruz. In 2003 it well be held from July 17 through 27. For the last nine years the Veracruz Institute of Culture has organized this festival to highlight and bring together the essence of Afro-Latin music and culture. This festival is amazingly rich and diverse, hosting musicians and dancers from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, the USA and other nations.

For two long weekends the streets of the city reverberate to the rhythms of rumba, son jarocho, merengue, son montuno, cumbia, samba and candombole, to name a few. Among the hundreds of performers present at the 8th annual festival in 2001 were musicians such as Ruben Blades (Panama), William Cepeda (Puerto Rico), Tanya Libertad (Peru), Oscar Chavez (Mexico), Murah Soares (Brazil), Victor Lay (Cuba) and groups such as Olodum (Brazil), Yoruba Andabo (Cuba), Las Estrellas Cubanas (Cuba), Teatro Negro de Barlovento (Venezuela), and Chuchumbe (Mexico).

This incredible gathering of African-influenced Latin music is unequaled anywhere and should not be missed by lovers of tropical rhythms. The mesmerizing melodies and rhythms of the festival combined with the sizzling atmosphere of Veracruz will, without doubt, enrapture you. We at Manos de Oaxaca have researched these pleasures, and would be delighted to share them with you in July, 2004. If you think you might be interested, please drop us an email. Meanwhile, we have gathered on these pages an introduction to the culture and environment of this coastal area, a sampling from last years festival offerings, and our own tentative trip itinerary. Come back, as these pages will evolve as the festival plans pick up momentum.

A 10-DAY ADVENTURE IN MUSIC, DANCE AND CULTURE FOCUSED AROUND THE STUPENDOUS AFROCARIBBEAN FESTIVAL
2004?
Presented by Manos de Oaxaca

As aficionados of African-inspired tropical music and long-time Mexico fans, we can think of nothing better than soaking up two long weekends of the hottest rhythms on earth in the tropical air of the Gulf of the Caribbean, combined with a road trip during the week between to visit some of the wonderful towns, ruins and beaches in this little-known corner of Mexico. What follows is a tentative sketch of what we might pull together around the 2004 festival. If you think you might be interested, please drop us a note at traditionsmexico@yahoo.com.

SIX DAYS OF FESTIVAL MUSIC, PRIVATE GATHERINGS WITH MUSICIANS, AND DAILY SALSA LESSONS

We spend two, 3-day weekends enjoying all the festival has to offer, and then some. Not only will we have unlimited access to the evening concerts out our front door (we'll be staying in a hotel just a short walk from the mainstage), but we'll also bring some of the musicians and groups to us for several exclusive gatherings. For example, we may learn about Colombian rhythms from a Vallenato cumbia band, Dominican ska from a merengue band, or details of Cuban rumba. Also, during and after the festival there will be ample opportunities to dance (Veracruz dance clubs don't turn out the lights until sunrise). As part of the trip we will be providing salsa lessons each afternoon while in Veracruz. We are bringing along with us our own two salsa teachers and intend to wear holes into your dancing shoes.

A FOUR-DAY ROAD TRIP BETWEEN FESTIVAL WEEKENDS TO VISIT JUNGLE RUINS, PALM-LINED BEACHES, AND A CLASSY, HIGHLAND COLONIAL CITY

While the dust settles from the first weekend of the festival, on Monday we'll travel up the Gulf coast to visit the 1,200 year old jungle ruins of pyramids and palaces of the mysterious El Tajin. Two nights spent on the Costa Esmeralda gives us a chance to rinse off in the sea and pull the drums out for a rumba under the palms on the beach (We'll bring some congas, bongos, guiros, maracas, bells and claves- but bring your own percussion instruments as well to fill things out).

From the coast we head inland to breath the cooler upland air of Xalapa where we will spend a couple of days taking in the sights, sounds and culture of this fun university town. In the schedule while in Xalapa we will visit Santa Ana's Hacienda (remember the Alamo? Santa Ana is the guy who was on the other side of the wall). On your own while in Xalapa you may choose to visit the world class Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, visit the old towns of Xico, Coatepec and the gorgeous 120 foot-high Texolo Waterfall, or sign up for a rafting trip down the Filobobos River. We have also arranged for an optional class in Zapateada while in Xalapa. This is a folkloric type of tap dancing, danced to son Jarocho music of Veracruz. The instructor is from the group Son de Madera. To round things off, Xalapa is never short on good eating and evening cultural events. Mid-day Friday marks our return pilgrimage to Veracruz for three more wonderful nights of Caribbean jams and dancing at the Festival.