Esperanza Community Housing Corporation Presents “La Vida Es Un Festival!“ An Afro-Latinx Festival at the Mercado La Paloma celebrating the rich and diverse Afro-Latinx culture in Los Angeles that promotes black and brown solidarity, and fosters wellness, education, and entertainment from the local and international diaspora.
This festival aims to create an annual platform for Afro-Latinx communities and allies to come together, recognize and celebrate shared heritage and culture from the Caribbean to Central America and wherever the Afro-Latinx diaspora is found in the world.
Through various forms of performance, workshops, and wellness activities, this festival seeks to provide a space where artists, activists, and educators can share their talents, experiences, and knowledge of culture with the Los Angeles community.
Below is the pre-festival art exhibition, which will be highlighting artists from the diaspora.
Festival Program
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Music is often one of the dominant carriers of culture within Afro-Latin populations. Our lineup will include:
Los Rakas
Juliet Mendoza
Kati Hernandez and Kimbambula
Nakeiltha Campbell and “Puentes de Poder”
Cee Brown
Lillani “Dizam” Moran
Sutiweyu “Broso” Sandoval
Read performer profiles below.
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Kati Hernandez: A native of Cuba, Kati grew up surrounded by the sounds of the drum and the Afro-Cuban tradition. She shares her passion for dance studies as a dancer and educator who brings the fullness of her heritage to every showcase.
Skira Martinez: is a multidisciplinary artist whose work ranges from functional art and body adornment to wall and installation pieces. In combination with more traditional mediums, Skira uses found objects, thrift store and yard sale treasures, or unwanted items intended for the trash to create unique assemblage and mixed media pieces.
“REMIX” Mixed Media Art Workshop: Adult/teen participants will take apart a bicycle light and rearrange (remix) it to create a feline friend.
Child participants will create a robot using stickers. Once completed, the paper will be mounted on a light piece of wood.
Artworks will be exhibited during the event in an onsite pop-up gallery titled ‘The People's Gallery’. Participants will pick up their art when they are ready to leave the event.
There will also be art activities and a sandbox for the children of the participants. Before and after the ‘Remix’ workshop visitors to Skira’s canopy will be able to create art using a variety of art supplies that will be available and set up in a ‘self-serve art buffet’.
Fatima Dodson: After growing up in fashion, Fatima wanted to create a space of her own to bring women together through a thick, connecting thread: fashion.
Runway Boutique L.A. is a blend of afrocentric, care-free, Brooklyn bohemian fashion-forward goodness. Not only is it a reflection of Fatima’s own personal style, but an amalgamation of the influences she was touched by growing up.
“Head Wraps in the Park” Activation: hopes to create an environment that fosters creativity, celebrates individuality, and encourages community. This workshop will assist women, children, and other folks with the helpful techniques to wrap their hair.
L.A. Grit Media: as community archivists, they have paid homage to South LA filmmakers through their annual South Central Film Festival, and shared community stories through the South Central Archive Website.
“Stories from South Central” Archival Telephone Booth: This activation will provide an opportunity for participants to step into the telephone booth and share their story based on a given prompt.
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The festival will provide educational opportunities through workshops, panel discussions, and presentations that address issues of Afro-Latinx identity, history, and culture.
It will also offer opportunities for dialogue and conversation around black and brown solidarity and social justice issues.
Community organizations will also be providing information about their services:
Afro Unidad
Esperanza Community Health Tent
South Central Run Club
Afro-Latino Education and Arts Collective
Afro-Latin Conneccion de UCLA
Plant Plug LA
STAND Los Angeles
LA Commons
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The festival will provide opportunities for participants to engage in wellness practices such as yoga, meditation, and other self-care activities.
We will also feature vendors offering natural and holistic health and wellness products.
Marketplace Curated by Runway Boutique LA: A curated experience highlighting Small Businesses and Brands
Vendors:
Featured Performing Artists
HEADLINERS:
Los Rakas ft. DJ Ethos
Panamanian Reggaeton duo
Comprised of cousins Raka Rich and Raka Dun, pioneering Panamanians by way of the Bay Area on the frontier of a new Latin urban sound. Known for their fresh mix of hip-hop, plena, reggae, and dancehall music; the Grammy-nominated duo represents the cutting edge of Pan-American flows.
Los Rakas will be supported by heavyweight, Dj Ethos! An established global talent with LA roots and eclectic party rocking skills to vibes unlimited shown by his practice as a member of the all-inclusive SUBSUELO, a Global Bass party celebrating music from around the world.
Juliet Mendoza
Afro-Central American DJ and Producer
Artist (Salvadoreña, Nicaraguense, Mexicana), LA native, dancer, DJ, and a true heart of the underground House music and dance culture.
Lillani “Dizam” Moran
Afro-Puerto Rican DJ/ Vibe Curator
is an Angeleno of Afro-Puerto Rican heritage currently based in Mexico. Her sonic stylings cross the gamut of dance music including various global styles that heavily incorporate electronic elements.
Kati Hernandez and Kimbambula
Cuban Dance and Music Ensemble
A native of Cuba, Kati grew up surrounded by the sounds of the drum and the Afro-Cuban tradition. She shares her passion for dance studies as a dancer and educator who brings the fullness of her heritage to every showcase.
Christopher “Cee” Brown
DJ and Producer
With an ever widening musical taste that includes R&B, Funk, 80’s, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Brazilian, Afrobeat, Soulful House and more, CEEBROWN is a seasoned DJ who continues to reinvent himself while igniting dance floors across the country and beyond.
Sutiweyu “Broso” Sandoval
Afro-Central American DJ
Known as “Broso”, he combines music from across the African Diaspora and fuses it with electronic flavors, hood elements, and his own Central American roots. The popularity of this innovative mix led to performances and residencies at clubs and parties across the globe.
Nakeiltha Campbell and Puentes de Poder
Afro-Panamanian Performance Ensemble
Nakeiltha “Nikki” Campbell is a multicultural percussionist, teaching artist, producer, and performer from Panama. Nikki uses drumming to express her Afro-Caribbean Panamanian lineage, extend a legacy of women drumming in the African diasporic traditions, and celebrate the intense study of rhythm.
Hosted By:
Joelii
Master of Ceremonies
Joelii is a Dominican Latin rapper and songwriter known for his versatile flows, aggressive rhymes, seductive melodies, and ability to perform bilingually in Spanish and English. Joelii as well has performed as a supporting act on Jenn Morel tours across the globe. He has earned notable support in the DJ community with releases alongside Play N Skillz, JSTJR, ETC ETC, DJ City and Salvi.
The Marketplace
Curated by Runway Boutique LA
Fatima Dodson
Founder of Runway Boutique LA
Runway Boutique LA started eighteen years ago with the dreams and aspirations of Fatima Dodson. After growing up in fashion, Fatima wanted to create a space of her own to bring women together through a thick, connecting thread: fashion.
Runway Boutique’s carefully-crafted curation of style is dedicated to creating a safe environment for women to express themselves through their own sense of style. When you walk into Fatima’s shop, you’re greeted with a joyfully overwhelming sense of care, a meticulous eye for detail, and a playful spirit when it comes to wardrobe.
RBLA’s goal is to be a source of inspiration for other women to create a brainchild of their own and watch it grow into a tangible and fashionable form of self-expression to make their mark on the world.
Production Team
Azul Amaral
Creative Director / Cultural Programmer / Producer
Most recently Azul was the Creative Director of Grand Performances, contracted to rebrand the longest running presenter of free global performing arts in Los Angeles. Azul's expertise in creative brand strategy, design direction, marketing ,video and creating stories with images strengthened the brand and achieved the organization's creative vision onsite, in print, online, and on-air digital media. The 2021 Grand Performances’ 35th summer season was the most attended in the organization's history.
Over the past 20 years, Azul has established a career as creative director, photographer, DJ, promoter, visual artist, and producer in film and live events working with many of today's current relevant brands and artists. Azul remains an active artist in the Los Angeles community. Clients include Cashmere Agency, The Getty, Brookfield Arts & Properties, The Music Center, AARP, Sony Music, Boiler Room TV, Red Bull, adidas, FOX, Sony Pictures, Complex, Vice, Warner Japan, Fania Records, The California Endowment, Women’s March LA, and The los Angeles county board of supervisors, to name a few. Over the past ten years, Azul has been aligned with several landmark outdoor event productions and activations.
Sutiweyu Sandoval
A fundamental love of music and movement has always been a part of Sutiweyu Sandoval's life. His passion for dance transitioned seamlessly into Djing and music production which led to a global impact within the street dance world as "K. Sabroso" which was later rebranded as “Broso'“.
He began combining music from across the African Diaspora and fusing it with electronic flavors, hood elements, and his own Central American roots. The popularity of this innovative mix led to performances and residencies at clubs and parties across the globe.
Currently, Sutiweyu is focused on leveraging the lessons of his creative journey into developing educational resources and community events with a distinct emphasis on South Los Angeles.
Creative Director
Skira Martinez
Arts and Events Consultant
Skira Martinez (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work ranges from functional art and body adornment to wall and installation pieces.
She is the owner of Cielo galleries/studios (Tongva land, South Central) and has from 2010 to date, curated numerous exhibits across Los Angeles.
Nancy Halperin-Ibrahim, Executive Director, Esperanza Community Housing
Azul Amaral, Creative Director / Cultural Programmer / Producer
Sutiweyu Sandoval, Creative Director
Skira Martinez, Arts and Event Consultant
Natalie Monzon, Social Media Marketing / Outreach
Alfred Hawkins, Graphic Designer
Omar Holguin, Arts Co-Consultant
Dan Umana, Mercado La Paloma Facilities Manager
Cyrus Kay, Development Officer, Esperanza Community Housing
Thank you to our partners!
Annual Afro-Latinx Futurism Festival
This festival aims to create a platform for Afro-Latinx communities and allies to come together and celebrate their shared heritage and culture. Through various forms of entertainment, education, and wellness activities, this festival seeks to provide a space where artists, activists, and educators can share their talents, experiences, and knowledge with others.
This event will be an 8-hour-long festival incorporating arts, dance, and music centered on Afro-Latinx culture. The format will focus on the intersection of this culture in entertainment, education and wellness.