Oceans of Rhythm Festival takes place Saturday

LONG BRANCH — Zebra’s 17th annual Oceans of Rhythm Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 28, at Jerry Morgan Park and the Great Lawn in Long Branch. This year’s theme is “In 2010, Let’s Do it Again: Back to Roots and Culture!”

The popular free festival incorporates music, drumming, multicultural dance and performances by a host of talent, local and international, young and old. The Oceans of Rhythm Ensemble kicks off at 1 p.m. on the stage at Jerry Morgan Park followed at 3 p.m. by a musical procession down Broadway to the ocean, led by an African stilt walker. All are invited to join in the procession, after which festivities will continue at the Great Lawn and amphitheater located at Greeley Terrace and McKinley Street for more drumming and dancing, performances and workshops.

This year’s festival will feature several groups: Effervescence, world beat music fusion; Year Roots and Rhythms, drum and dance group from Senegal, West Africa; Sister Isis and The Tribe, children and adult’s drumming collective; Group Iowa Dada, a children’s musical theater and dance group; Kitchen African Dance Company.

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 (Zest for Education of Youth Brings Rhythm Arts and Humanities) is a nonprofit cultural organization that creates community arts projects and festivals and trains young artists.

Oceans of Rhythm Festival is held in conjunction with the Long Branch Office of Community Development, the Long Branch Department of Recreation and the Long Branch Housing Authority. The festival is part of the Back to School Festival sponsored by the housing authority, which begins at 10 a.m. Rain date is Aug. 29. For more information, visit Zeybrah@aol.com.