Salobreña began its VIII Festival de Habaneras yesterday, filling the town with the sound of Carribean music and colourful costumes.

The Festival Internacional de Habaneras y Música Iberoamericana de la Costa Tropical, which will be held in the Anfiteatro Nilo Cruz, as usual, over this weekend, giving you a chance to enjoy Central & South American and Carribbean music.

In case you are wondering what Habaneras are, the Habanera, also known as Contradanza Criolla or Danza Criolla, is the name used outside of Cuba and developed from the French Contradanza. Habaneras is the first dance music from Cuba to be exported all over the world.

Back to the festival this weekend, Brazil is the invited country this year so their musicians led the parade, which set off from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and headed down Calle Antonio Machado, Pontanilla, Federico García Lorca, Casa de la Cultura and Av. del Mediterráneo on their way to the beach and along as far as Urbanización Los Faroles.

The group that represents Brazil will perform tonight, preceded by a group from Jaén (Hadira Plectro), then on Sunday the 24th it will be the host’s turn (i.e., Salobreña’s) with Grupo Cantares de Salobreña, who will share the stage with Pepe Hernández, who is a well-known, local musician who presently lives in Benidorm.

All concerts in the Anfiteatro Nilo Cruz begin at 21.00h and entrance tickets can be purchased at the Casa de la Cultura and the Oficina de Turismo, which will be a little cheaper than at the door.

Editorial comment: as most locals know and visitors have found out, the Tourist Information Office is closed, so don’t try there. You’re probably just better off turning up at the event and buying a ticket there.

(News: Salobrena, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)