The music plays out. Although treating is at a music festival isn’t strange. The only thing that is music comes from MagicoMundo, an area dedicated to families attending Rototom Sunsplash. They are Emeterians, and what’s playing out is a concert specially dedicated to the kids at the festival. Reggae made to measure. They sing, shout, get emotional and join in. All this with a unique smile that only music is able to put on their faces.

Music becomes a global reason, filled with meaning. It’s their rhythms, that are able to realise this. It’s also the music and dancing that are the best reasons to connect to new cultures. Like channels to relate in the best way possible to new ways of life, new referents and multiple histories. Edition after edition, Rototom Sunsplash becomes a global encounter among its attendees. A multicultural and international character is reflected in its musical line-ip and in the programs of each area.

Now imagine transporting yourself to Africa, to find a bit more richness (oftentimes unknown) of its history and culture. But, how? In the African Village, when the music starts, the colour of the area spreads to every corner and for a moment forms part of this history that is created every day at Rototom. The Senegalese artist Ali Thioune is in charge of one of the traditional African dance exhibitions. Also, and as a new addition to this edition, the crew African Womens Dancers join in with modern African dance. These are two ways to look at the same culture which Rototom shares with its audience.

There are other rhythms, more frenetic and red-hot. Dancehall is said to be experiencing a big moment and is treated as one of the genres of Jamaican music that is currently trendy and its dance couldn’t be less. It features movements that seem almost impossible to imitate, but are made possible at the Solé Reggae Beach, the official Rototom beach bar at Gurugú del Grao beach in Castellón, via the dancehall classes on the beach. To be repeated.

Written by Asun Pérez Cabezas. Translated by Finn Darco