Headliner · Music
Tambacum
An Afro-Colombian group from Nuquí on Colombia’s Pacific coast, founded in 2020 and led by Jhon Esteban Lasso Mena. They play coastal rhythms like tamborito and cumbancha.
← Festival home2024
The First Festival
September 1, 2024 · NYC Parks Far Rockaway Amphitheater, Queens, NY
The first Ocean Festival: a free celebration of Afro-Diasporic music and culture featuring Tambacum on their 2024 U.S. tour.
Lineup
Headliner Tambacum, an Afro-Colombian traditional music group, with Grupo Cultural de Capoeira Angola do Acupe and award-winning Afro-Caribbean writer and poet Adriana Devers.
The festival ran 12–7 PM and the night closed with an afterparty at The Surf Lot (7–10 PM).
Youth workshop
The day before, on August 31, 2024, kids and teens ages 8–16 joined “Sound Waves and Traditions: Integrating Whale Songs with Chocoan Rhythms,” an in-person workshop at the Rockaway Beach Welcome Center on Beach 44th Street (11 AM – 2 PM).
More than music
Panel discussions on African-descendant art and culture, and a music workshop for Black and Brown youth led by experienced musicians.
Partners
Laru Beya Collective, afrolatin@ forum, Casa Finca NYC, R&E Ocean Community Conservation, Buena Onda Collective, Los Herederos, The Surf Lot, Reel Works and NYC Parks.
Featured artists
Capoeira
Grupo Cultural de Capoeira Angola do Acupe
Brought the music and movement of capoeira angola to the amphitheater.
Poetry
Adriana Devers
Award-winning Afro-Caribbean author, poet and educator. She founded Cuentos de Triadas, which runs bilingual cultural programs for young people.
Learn more →Panel
afrolatin@ forum
Hosted a panel conversation with members of Tambacum about Afro-Colombian music and culture from the Pacific coast.
Videography
Lowel Almor
Videographer who filmed the festival and created its recap videos.
Photography
Ricardo Botero
Photographer who captured the 2024 festival. The photos on this page are his work.
Learn more →Watch
Photos
