Plans for the 2002 Festival
provided by Ernesto Marquez, festival organizer

(for a taste of the flavor of last year's festival with media and musician's links, please click here)

This year's festival will take place July 10-21 and will be dedicated to Black poetry. The festival performances will take place in six locations in the state of Veracruz; the port of Veracruz, Xalapa, Orizaba, Alvarado, Tierra Blanca and Coatzacoalcos. There will also be performances in the states of Tabasco, Campeche and Mexico City. This years "country of honor" will be Colombia. As a result we will be organizing a strong artistic presence from this country. Already confirmed from Colombia: Fundaciòn Colombia Negra (music, theatre and dance),Los Pelaos ( musical group that fuses Afrocolombian rhythms with rock-pop) and Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto (traditional music from the coastal region). We are also hoping for Carlos Vives, Joe Arroyo and Ensamblaje Teatro, but these groups have yet to confirm. It is also likely that Ms. Colombia will join us.

The presence of Cuba will also be strong at the festival given that the festival will be honoring Nicolás Guillén, the Cuban National Poet. Some of the possible performers from Cuba are Orquesta Aragòn and Orquesta Aragoncitos, both from Cien Fuegos; Orquesta, Femenil Anacaona, Ballet Folclòrico Nacional de Cuba, Issac Delgado performing timba Cubana), Elambia (Black poet), Nanci Morejòn (scholar of the poetry of Guillén) and the grandson of honored poet, Nicolás Guillén Hernàndez.

Additional invited performers:

Baaba Mal (Senegal), Wole Soyinka (Nigeria), Derek Walcott (Martinica), Richie Rey & Bobiie Cruz (Puerto Rico), Pleneros de La 21 (Puerto Rico), Grupo Folclòrico (República Dominicana), Los Hermanos Rosario (República Dominicana Samia, Haitì), Kali (Marinica), Carmina Canavino (Perù), Negro Rada y El Sabalero (Uruguay), Fabiola (Venezuela), Marimba tradicional (Guatemala,) Grupo Folclòrico (Belice), Tambores de Portobelo (Panamá), Luis Enrique y Carlos Mejía Godoy (Nicaragua), Ballet Folclòrico Nacional Garífuna (Honduras), Charro Limonense y grupo folclòrico (Costa Rica), Compañía de Pepe Carioca (Brasil) Skatalites (Jamaica) Passion (Jamaica) Tambu (E.U.) Adela Dalto (E.U.)

From Mexico:

Son and salsa: Congo Bongo (Veracruz-Jalisco) Chico Andrade y grupo Orquesta Estrellas Veracruzanas Aminta Ruìz Pazos con Pregoneros del Recuerdo Combo Ninguno Sembradores del son

Son Jarocho: Cojolites Estanzuela Mono Blano Rìo Crcido Son Luna Los Utrera

Latin Jazz: Son Goloso Yazú Elizabeth Meza c/ Grupo 5o, Grado Ensamble de Percusiones de la SEC (Secretaria de Educaciòn y Cuktura)

Theatre: Compañía de la U. de Veracruz Director: Enrique Pineda Obra: Veracruz Veracruz

PS. I want to reiterate that these are just preliminary plans and we still have not confirmed the presence of many participants.

Sincerely,
Ernesto Marquez

Festival Update - May 28, 2002

We have learned that the scope of this years Festival has suffered as a result of economic difficulties and government budget cuts. The festival will still be held, but will be pared down compared to previous years. Here is the schedule of performers and venues as we now know it:

Program

Venu

Wednesday
July 10

Thursday
July 11

Friday
July 12

Saturday
July 13

Sunday
July 14

Malecón -
3 blocks
from central
park

Baaba Maal
(Senegal)

Eugenia León
(México)

Zenglen
(Haití)

Arrow
(Montserrat)

Orquesta Aragón
(Cuba)

Taller de jaraneritos

De San
Andrés
Tuxtla

Liz Meza
(México)

Taumbú
(E.U)

Kolé
(Colombia)

Adela Dalto
(E.U)

Los Cojolites
(México)

Coyolillo
(México)

Mono Blanco
(México)

Xiomara Fortuna
(Rep.Dominicana)
o

Pregoneros del
Recuerdo
(México)

Playa
iguanas

Maldita Vecindad
(México)

Panteón Rococó
(México)

Toño Canica
(México)

Neighborhood I

Kolé
(Colombia)

Canto Sangurima
(S.L.P-Méx)

Neighborhood II

Taumbú
(E.U)

Bajo tu sonrisa ligera
(Sonora-Méx)