Afro Roots Fest has historically celebrated the widespread influence that Africa continues to have on music, and furthers the mission of Community Arts and Culture, which is to foster an appreciation of the arts and culture through education. It is as much about root African culture as it is the syncretism of it with Western cultural traditions.
The festival has been held throughout Miami venues since its inception in 1999, beginning with the now defunct Tobacco Road, but has evolved into a traveling festival that brings the music to the people throughout South Florida, from Mile Marker Zero to North Palm Beach. The signature event is now held annually at the North Beach Bandshell, with satellite events taking place at locales such as the historic Seminole Theatre in Homestead and Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar in Jupiter.
Through multi-act concerts, events at area schools, panel discussions, musical workshops, and showcases, the Afro Roots Fest has consistently delivered top-shelf musical acts, opportunities for networking and Q&As, teaching moments, and a sense of global good will, all the while celebrating Pan-African and Caribbean cultures.
From its humble beginnings as a performance featuring the Sun Ra tribute band Afro Polyphonic Space Orchestra to its current incarnation featuring dozens of acts in three counties over several months’ time, it has always been about the music. Afro Roots music.
