LONG BRANCH – ZEYBRAH’s 19th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival will be held at the Gazebo at Pier Village, Saturday Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug. 12. If it rains on Saturday, the event will be held on Sunday only, rain or shine.
The festival incorporates music, drumming, and African dance with a host of talent of all ages, both local and international. This year’s theme is Jump-up at the Beach.
The event is part of the Summer Beach Party Series, offered by the Department of Recreation and spearheaded by DJ Yum Yum, Lonnie Rawls. Rawls is a Long Branch resident and DJ, who has presented house music parties throughout Monmouth County for the past several years. Assisting him at the mike will be Johnny Vega, singer/entertainer.
This year’s festival will feature groups and performers, including: Oceans of Rhythm Ensemble, world beat music; Yakar Roots and Rhythms, a drum and dance group from Senegal, West Africa; and Mzume, a community folkloric group specializing in Brazilian rhythms, headed by Marco Fuchs. Special guests include Hyswanna, Missy Dean, Timmy That Bass Kid, (Timmy Douglas) and an African masquerade.
Audience participation is encouraged throughout the program. The event is family oriented and all ages are encouraged to celebrate together the beauties of the African drum rhythms, the ocean and the community.
This African/Caribbean based festival is a celebration of the arts, the people, and the environment, and aims to enrich the community through cultural expressions reflecting its diversity.
ZEYBRAH is a nonprofit cultural organization that creates community arts projects and festivals, and trains young artists. The Oceans of Rhythm Festival is supported by funds from the Long Branch Community Development Block Grant, and the Monmouth County Arts Council. For further information contact the Long Branch Department of Recreation at 732-571-6545 or email ZEYBRAH@aol.com.
