13th Annual Moment In Time Festival - RUMBA GLOBAL

Sunday, December 16th at The Brecht Forum, NYC

An African Film, Music, Dance & Theatre Program for World Peace
TIME: 4:00 - 6:00 Films Screening Q&A with filmmakers
6:00 - 8:00 Rumba Global: Rumba and World Beat Music
8:-00 - 9:00 Rumba café and jam session

-Film Screenings Q&A Dr. Berta Jottar presents NYC Rumba: Rhythm and Resistance and several documentaries in honor of Miriam Makeba
-Yakar Roots and Rhythms Drum and Dance Company from Senegal, West Africa
-Gene Golden and QuintoMayor featuring Roman Diaz and Abraham Rodriguez
-Senuba Melody: "The Healing" fusion of Senegalese and Cuban music and dance theatre

ZEYBRAH (Zest for Education of Youth Brings Rhythm Arts and Humanities) and the OCDC (Orisha Community Development Corporation) are proud to present the 13th annual Moment In Time Festival -RUMBA GLOBAL. Our theme for this year's explosive musical extravaganza is: 'healing through music."

The 'family friendly' festival will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Brecht Forum, located at 451 West Street, (near 14th St. between Bank and Bethune, in Manhattan). The event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, but a $5 donation will be greatly appreciated. 'Global Rumba' begins with classical Cuban rumba and tells the story of its expansion across oceans and through the ages. Our line-up of outstanding guest artists will demonstrate how traditional rumba from Cuba traveled and evolved on the African continent, the US and the Caribbean. The program explodes into a breath-taking spectacle of music, song, dance and spoken word with master artists from Africa and the Diaspora. Rumba in its global forms will be on display, with traditional drums from Cuba, Senegal, and Nigeria (bata, conga, djembe and sabar drums.)

At 4 p.m., Rumba Global will open its program with film screenings and discussions. Several scholars will present their work and respond to questions and comments, featuring Dr. Berta Jottar, filmmaker and scholar on the topic of 'rumba' who will present her masterpiece, a documentary film called, "NYC Rumba-Rhythm and Resistance." Throughout the program, the concept of 'global rumba' as a musical vehicle for social change and evolution through art will be illustrated by various performances. Kicking off the music section at 6 pm is the innovative group Vibe Merchants, a fusion of blues, hip-hop, R &B and neo-soul, performing several original works, whose innovative, inspirational and healing music weave thought provoking lyrics with catchy melodies.

The featured piece from Senuba Melody (Senegal and Cuba musical fusion) is called 'The Healing' a medley of music, dance and poetry and positive affirmations of universal appeal, inspired by the book, "I Hear Olofi Sing" written by Ayoka Wiles. Highlighted with dances for Elegua, Yemaya and Sango, mythological archetypes from the Yoruba tradition, the work bridges culture nuances from Nigeria/Cuba and NYC. Featured dancers include Yesenia Selier, dance scholar and dancer with a BA from the University of Havana and an MA from NYU and Tony Domenech, Afro-Cuban dancer teacher and choreographer. Rumba as it developed in Africa will be performed by Yakar Roots and Rhythms from Senegal, featuring master drummers Mar Guey, Alioune Guido Faye and Mbaye Nyasse and dancers Ousmane Sall and Miriama Basse, Aida Faty - who have all cultivating their musical expertise since their childhood in Senegal and will present a selection of dance and musical styles from Senegal, some which parallel 'rumba.'

Classical Cuban rumba will be represented by Master Percussionist Gene Golden, who will perform with his premier rumba ensemble, Grupo Quintomayor with world class rumberos from the NYC area including the renowned Roman Diaz and Abraham Rodriguez. Members of each group will then converge to play a fusion tribute to Miriam Makeba, The finale of the evening will be a scintillating "global rumba" rumbon or jam session. Food and drink by Palaver Hut will also be available.

A portion of the proceeds have been designated for the Makeba Centre for Girls in South Africa, founded by Miriam Makeba (www.makebacentre.org.za/). Many recognize Miriam Makeba as one of the greatest singers of all time. She used her celebrity as a platform to denounce the injustices of the former South African apartheid government. Though exiled from her country, she was applauded worldwide for her courageous work. Ms. Makeba received passports and invitations to live in over twenty countries. She performed for many heads of state, including President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. She received over 30 awards for her singing and humanitarian work, plus honorary doctorates and peace prizes. The Moment in Time Festival is a cultural celebration produced by ZEYBRAH (Zest for Youth Brings Rhythm Arts and Humanities) and the Orisa CDC, (Orisha Community Development Corporation.) ZEYBRAH, is a nonprofit culture organization has been producing annual cultural festivals in NYC since 1984 and has collaborated with the OCDC for several years. Previous honorees of The Moment In Time Festival are: Puntilla Rios (Cuban born Father of the Bata Drum in America; Fela Anakulapo Kuti and Fumilayo Anakulapo Kuti (political and cultural heroes of Nigeria, mother and son); the Obalesu of Nigeria; famed drummers/stilt walkers: Baba Kwame Ishangi and Baba Olukose Wiles of the US; Mongo Santamaria (Afro-Cuban percussion/jazz innovator); Papa Ladji Camara(Father of the Djembe drum in America); and Leopold Senghor, (poet-president of Senegal)

Contact: Basha Alperin-Alade (732)290-0927 or ZEYBRAH@aol.com

Further info: Email Zeybrah@aol.com, ZEYBRAH.org: For directions visit brechtforum.com

The Moment In Time Festival is made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Also in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. And in part with public funds from the New York State council of the Arts Electronic Media and Film Presentation Funds grant program administered by the ARTS council of the Southern Finger Lakes (222.NYSCA.org/ www.eARTS.org)