28th Annual OCEANS OF RHYTHM FESTIVAL
Brought to you in conjunction with the City of Long Branch Office of Community and Economic Development and Department of Recreation
AFRICAN DANCE, DRUM and MUSIC
Virtual and Live (Reservations Suggested)
Featuring: YAKAR ROOTS AND RHYTHMS from Senegal, West Africa; plus Tyrone Laws, Loranah Phipps-Ray, Lorraine Stone, John Shambhu Eustor, Basha Alade, Marco Fuchs, Wink Hudson and Mark Henderson and more! Oceans of Rhythm Festival, held in Long Branch, New Jersey for 27 years is designed to bring diverse sections of the community together, for a family oriented, educational and recreational, multi-media festival, that will expand and broaden the experiences of all those who participate, both audience and artists. It is ZEYBRAH's aim to provide a vehicle for positive community growth and development.
Free Admission!
DIRECTIONS:
GSP to Long Branch, exit 105, or a short walf from NJ transit trains to Long Branch
INFORMATION: ZEYBRAH@aol.com
ZEYBRAH is proud to announce the 27th Annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival.
Yakar Roots and Rhythms African Drum and Dance Company from Senegal, West Africa, (via NYC) will perform and also invite the audience to join in to learn traditional African dance movements. They have performed at prestigious venues throughout NYC and the world (Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, United Nations, to name a few.) They each have a lifetime dedication to preserve the culture of their country and share it will the world. Our special guests who will join them are from Lakewood, NJ: AACE aka I Speak Djembe! founded in 1987 by Kames Haki, who has a lifetime commitment to training the youth and providing positive role models through African dance and drumming.
The Oceans of Rhythm Ensemble will feature guest artist Sekou Balomba, whose roots are in The Republic of Ivory Coast and The Gambia. Sekou has created his own style and sound, blending reggae rhythms with West African beats and melodies. He has released two CDs, "I Love My People" and "Sejou," as well as several music videos. He will perform his hit song "Mandela". Based in NYC where he performs frequently, Sekou also performs in Africa
Other local groups include: Grooves and Hiphop, featuring Timmy Douglas from Belmar and Vernon Stone from Long Branch, with their original style and homegrown funk. Also, the incredible hula hooper, Dominique Fruithoopgypsy will perform and bring extra hoops for those who want to join in.
ZEYBRAH is thrilled that Oceans of Rhythm is now a part of Oceanfest -- where people from all walks of life, and of all ages can celebrate together: the beauties of the community, the music and the ocean environment! There will be day long activities, music and vendors all along the boardwalk, culminating in a grand fireworks display at the beach.
ZEYBRAH is a nonprofit cultural organization that creates community arts projects and festivals, and trains artists. This year's Oceans of Rhythm Festival is supported by funds from the Long Branch Community Development Block Grant (Long Branch Office of Community and Economic Development, the Long Branch Department of Recreation), the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce, the Monmouth County Arts Council and generous friends of the festival. For further information contact the Long Branch Department of Recreation at 732-571-6545 or visit www.ZEYBRAH.org.
Pictures from 2017 event
Photo by Danni Siminero, Oceans of Rhythm 2017
Pictures from 2016 event
Click here to see the Photo Gallery
Goals
Our philosophy is reflected in the goals of the festival:
- To bring different groups together in celebration of common themes, thus strengthening the community.
- To provide wholesome educational and recreational activities for the entire family.
- To draw upon the wisdom of traditional communities to empower the modern community
- To encourage and foster positive growth for our communities.
- To provide an outlet for various youth groups and individuals to develop artistically.
- To remember the ocean as the vehicle by which many of our ancestors came to the Americas
- To encourage people to take care of and protect the ocean environment.
- To attract people from Long Branch, Monmouth County, throughout New Jersey, New York and beyond.
- To emphasize and acknowledge traditional folkloric cultures from Africa & the Caribbean, which so often serve as the roots of our contemporary music and dance.
The aim of the festival is to create a cultural tapestry, woven with positive energy, harmonious music and dance, traditional cultural expressions, and the beauties of nature, especially the ocean. By holding the festival in the Long Branch area, we aim to contribute to the revitalization of the community, while celebrating the various cultural heritages that exist there.
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