The Teguise City Council organizes the third edition of the YorùbáFest, an annual festival dedicated to spreading Yorùbá culture, an ethnolinguistic group from West Africa. This year, the event will be held on July 20 and 21 and will focus on the theme of Òrìsà Ẹ̀sú, one of the most revered deities in their tradition.
Mayor Olivia Duque highlights that this festival is "a celebration of cultural diversity and an opportunity for our environment to learn about Yorùbá culture." "We are delighted to welcome experts on this subject, as well as renowned artists, who will share their knowledge and talents with us," she says.
The Councilor for Culture and Festivities, Javier Díaz, emphasizes the importance of the event, since "it is not only a cultural meeting," but also "a space for learning and connection." "We hope that all residents and visitors enjoy this third edition of YorùbáFest, marked by a variety of activities," he emphasizes.
The festival program is designed to offer a complete experience that combines conferences, performances and cultural activities.
Festival Program
On Saturday, July 20, at 9:30 a.m., there will be a dance animation by Laura Balde, followed by a parade with Bàtá drums and a dance to Ẹ̀sú, presented by the Tamboreros Aña Ladé and the dancer Jesús Mora Romero. At 10:30 a.m., the conference on The Wisdom and Importance of Ifá and Òrúnmìlà will feature the participation of renowned speakers such as Awoniran Faniyi Ọmọyẹni and Jelili Atiku.
At noon, Cuban singers Mioara Mojarrieta and Made La Voz will offer a special performance, followed by a conference on 'The Importance of Women in Yorùbá Culture'. The day will end with a Bàtá drum party and Yorùbá dance shows starting at 2:00 p.m.
On Sunday, July 21, activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with dance animations, followed by a performance by the Tania Marcer Dance School. At 11:30 a.m., Professor Germán Santana from the ULPGC will give a conference on 'African Festivities and Masks'. Again, Mioara Mojarrieta and Made La Voz will delight the public with their music at 12:05 p.m.
Later, a conference on 'Egbé: The Spiritual Double, your Fraternity in Heaven' will be followed by a break to enjoy local gastronomy. Afternoon activities will include more Bàtá drums, conferences on Òrìsà Ẹ̀sú Òdàrà and Ẹ̀sú/Elegua/Diabletes, and a performance by Saúl Ori B Time together with Mioara and Made La Voz. The day will conclude with a conference on the importance of good character, "Ìwà Pẹ̀lẹ́", and a final Bàtá drum party.
Registration for the various activities of the Yorubafest is now open. For more information and to register, those interested can visit the Teguise City Council website.
