Perhaps it may seem few, but seven days of Rototom Sunsplash experience is a lot. To get to know. Learn. Reflect. Laugh. Build. Dance. Suggest. Change. And looking forward to coming back.
The international reggae festival bid farewell to its 28th edition last night in Benicàssim with the objective of having lived up to its motto, ‘United for Peace’.Thanks to the collaboration of each and every one of the people who have believed one more summer in this musical, cultural and social project reference in Europe; they have starred in this experience of interculturalism, coexistence, respect and active listening around reggae and diversity with which this musical genre is rooted. Values that are the basis for building a peaceful world in peace,” says Filippo Giunta, director of Rototom Sunsplash.
Peace has been the centerpice of this reggae city, which has attracted 222,000 people from 77 countries from all five continents from August 16th to 22nd. Spain, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Portugal and the United States make up the top 10 in terms of main places of origin, although the Rototom universe has also added audiences from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Africa.
A reggae city dressed in the colours of peace on its stages and handcrafted scenographies to support the purpose that has moved the Rototom community, diverse in origin, but also in age.
The young audience, the future festival-goers, is growing, and this year more than 21,000 children under the age of 13 joined the experience with their families throughout the week, compared to 13,000 in 2022. People over 65 have also taken the stage: more than 9,000, enjoying inch by inch, the cultural engine of this edition.
The accessibility of the venue, and the fact of thinking small to design a cultural agenda for everyone, is one of the reasons for choosing Rototom Sunsplash as a destination, which is reinforced by the fact that it is a festival that has its own areas for children, families and teenagers.Magicomundo, Teen Yard or Mercado Artesano – on a concert venue without crowds, with multiple areas of shade and rest and a camping site with plots reserved for families.
In these areas, the daytime programme of the festival has expanded alongside the reflective spaces of the Social Forum and Jamkunda,the conscientious Pachamama or the temple for learning of the Reggae University, which shows almost 150 activities during the weekfrom talks and debates to workshops, screenings, performing arts shows, Afro, urban or dancehall dance sessions and much more.
The musical evenings have weighed in the choice of Rototom as the festival of the summer for another part of the public, attracted by the line-up and its sound platforms, which have innovated in scenography, as is the case of the huge spherical dome of the Dub Academy or the design ‘on fire’ of the Dancehall.
Up to 185 Concerts and Dj Sets amongst the six stages of the venue and the Solé Rototom Beachat the Gurugú beach, which explore, mix and surprise, as happened last night, on the closing day, with the reinterpretation in flamenco of songs by the king of reggae in the international premiere of the show ‘The world of flamenco salutes Bob Marley’. The evening left for the collective imagination other high quality performances, such as those by UB40 or Anthony B on the Main Stage, which were joined in this edition by other renowned artists such as the Jamaican legend Burning Spear, Grammy Award winner Kabaka Pyramid or Tiken Jah Fakoly, exponent of African reggae.
Both in the musical and extra-musical activities, the festival has once again gone beyond the limits of the concert venue thanks to the streaming of the shows of the Main Stage and the Lion Stage and of the main debates and sessions of the Reggae University and the Social Forum during the week.
The channels enabled have brought Rototom Sunsplash closer to three million people around the world, who have followed live the day to day of the festival via web and social networks.
Intense days and unforgettable nights enlivened with extras of flavour and art. Fifteen artists have left their artistic legacy in the open museum of the Social Art Gallery, which is also dedicated to peace, and which will allocate the proceeds from the sale of the works to social causes.
And in between concerts, international cuisine to continue discovering the world through the palate thanks to the 40 gastronomic proposals that have landed this year at the festival, with many novelties, such as Ibizan skewers, artisan hot dog stands or smoked meat by weight, or Senegalese gluten-free dishes.
Rototom Sunsplash 2023 marks a milestone in the environmental path of the festival. This year’s edition is the first to start with the carbon footprint already validated by Aenor. A step towards devising new sustainable actions to move the festival towards an emission-free future. In this regard, it should be recalled that the festival’s sustainability actions prevented the emission of 39 tons ofCO2 in last year’s edition.
The first actions to continue defending the planet have already taken shape this year with the reinforcement of the recycling policy through the installation of 27 clean points in the campsite. Rototom Sunsplash maintains its seal as a plastic-free festival, thanks mainly to its system of reusable cups and social purpose. All proceeds will go to l’Aurora Grup de Suport, which assists humanitarian migrant rescue boats from its base in the port of Burriana.
As from today, the Rototom Sunsplash already sets the counter to zero for its next landing.
Reggae. Family. Social and environmental commitment. See you in 2024!
ROTOTOM SUNSPLASH 2023, IN FIGURES
Total public in the 7 days: 222,000 people
Nationalities: 77
Under 13 years old in 7 days: 21,000
Seniors over 65 in 7 days: 9,000
People with functional diversity and accompanying persons: 4,500 in 7 days
Audience reached via streaming: 3,000,000 people
Cultural activities: 143
Concerts and Dj Sets: 185