D.C. is hosting its second annual Afro Latino Festival this Saturday, June 3 at 12 p.m. in Malcolm X Park.
To honor the rich culture of the community, the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs is inviting residents to attend the free event, which will feature performances and other activities for people of all ages to enjoy. According to organizers for the festival, there will also be food trucks near the entrance along 2401 15th Street NW.
Live music from artists will include the sounds of funk, reggae, bachata, salsa, merengue, gospel – and of course, Go-Go. Featured performers include the Grammy-nominated Cimafunk, Puerto Rican percussionist Héctor “Coco” Barez, The Soul Searchers (aka Chuck Brown’s backing band), and more.

There will also be a performance from Kumanana!, highlighting the legacy of Afro Peruvian poetry, music and dance. The musical revue is currently onstage at the historic GALA Hispanic Theatre and is dedicated to the resurgence of Afro Peruvian artists in the 1960s.
Among the activities for guests to enjoy will be a demonstration of capoeira, a Brazilian martial art and form of dance.
Organizers say this year’s festivities are a continuation of the inaugural event meant to celebrate the diversity and contributions of D.C.’s immigrant and Latino communities.
Héctor Alejandro Arzate