The 2025 International African Arts Festival will pay Tribute to the Global Icon during it’s Weekend-Long Arts Festival on SATURDAY, July 5th 2025.
.
.
Copyright 2025 by Teofilo Colon Jr (a.k.a. “Tio Teo”) for Being Garifuna. All Rights Reserved. Contact Tio Teo.
.
Brooklyn, New York — The International African Arts Festival has announced that it will host a tribute to Garifuna Singer-Songwriter, Aurelio Martinez, during it’s weekend-long Annual African Arts Festival on SATURDAY, July 5th 2025.
.
.
If you have found anything this INDEPENDENT Platform, Being Garifuna, has Published, Shared, Promoted, Posted, etc, over the last 15 Years Helpful, please consider Donating to this ongoing Being Garifuna Gofundme Fundraising Drive and support this experiment in Indepedence.
.
An impressive list of Garifuna musicians and singers are scheduled to be a part of The Tribute to Garifuna Singer-Songwriter, Aurelio Martinez, who became an Ancestor after a Plane Crash in Roatan, Honduras on March 17hd 2025.
.
According to the Flyer, Belizean Garifuna Performer, Aziatic, Honduran Garifuna Drummer and Singer, Bodoma, Honduran Garifuna Singer, Nino Arzu, Guatemalan Garifuna Singer, Paula Castillo, Honduran Garifuna Singer, Felix Gamboa, Honduran Garifuna Producer, Roy Martinez and The Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Dance Company all will Honor The Life and Legacy of Aurelio Martinez in this Tribute.
.
.
SCHEDULED TRIBUTE TO AURELIO MARTINEZ PERFORMERS
.
The Scheduled Lineup is as follows.
.
BODOMA will start the Tribute with Dügü. I am told that he will start at approximately, 5pm.
.
PAULA CASTILLO follows with her rendition of Banda.
.
NINO ARZU follows her with his rendition of The Aurelio Martinez song, Ragübon Bawuri (“Grab your Machete” in the Garifuna Language).
.
FELIX GAMBOA follows him with his rendition of the popular Aurelio Martinez song, Africa.
.
AZIATIC follows him with his set, which includes Aurelio’s song, Yalifu (“Pelican” in the Garifuna Language).
.
Finally, The Chief Joseph Chatoyer Garifuna Dance Company concludes the Tribute with a Dance Performance sure to vibrate to the Heavens. I am told that they are scheduled to begin their Performance at 6pm.
.
.
.
I have not kept track of how many Garifuna Artists have performed or sold Food or Merchandise at this Prestigious, Family Friendly Cultural Festival over the Years. As a Youth, I remember this Festival and the Dance Africa! Festival in Brooklyn both being a BIG deal overall.
.
Years ago, I came across Garifuna Singer-Songwriter, Andy Palacio being interviewed on The Athletic Field of Boys and Girls High School in 1995.
.
I don’t know what other event it could have been there but The International African Arts Festival. Although it could have been The Belize Fest. The video also includes a performance.
.
.
The International African Arts Festival takes place during Independence Day Weekend from July 4th 2025 through Sunday, July 6th 2025 from 10am to 9pm. It will take place at Commodore Barry Park in Downtown Brooklyn. Navy Street, Park Ave and Flushing Ave. There is a $5 to $10 Donation requested at the Gate.
.
About The International African Arts Festival
.
The International African Arts Festival began in 1971 as The African Street Carnival. It was created by The East, an Afrocentric Community Organization in Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
.
The African Street Carnival was held in front of The East’s Headquarters on Claver Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant before becoming too big for that space and moving to the Athletic Field of Boys and Girls High School. It remained there for 25 Years before moving to Commodore Barry Park.
.
I remember attending the International African Arts Festival at Boys and Girls High School as a Youth.
.
In addition to the Musical and Dance Performances, The International African Arts Festival also consists of a Food Court and an African Marketplace, where Vendors sell merchandise like Clothing, Jewelry, African Fabrics, T-Shirts, Body Oils, Furniture, Hand-Carved Sculptures, and more.
.
The International African Arts Festival is a Family-Friendly, Outdoor Cultural Festival that celebrates traditional and contemporary expressions of African culture and that of the African Diaspora.