Festival slated for Sunday

The 2003 Oceans of Rhythm Festival will take place in Long Branch Sunday for the 10th year.

Presented by Zeybrah in conjunction with the Long Branch Office of Community Development and the Department of Recreation, the festival, which will showcase African and Caribbean music, dance and drama and will take place at 3 p.m. at the Long Branch Senior Citizen Center on Second Avenue.

The intergenerational event will feature both local and international talent ranging from 5-75 years old.

The mission of Zeybrah, which stands for Zest for Education of Youth Brings Rhythm, Arts and Humanities, is to promote cultural exchange and experiential learning through interactive, authentic presentations of folk art from Cuba, Brazil, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Senegal.

Zeybrah founder Basha Alperin will continue a festival tradition with the presentation of the latest Swanita musical play. This year the festival will offer "Swanita and the Third Eye," which examines the predicament of teenagers as they confront difficult situations and try to make ethical choices.

Featured performers will include members of the International Ballet of Senegal, Tambou Yambu World Beat Arkestra, local hip-hop dancers Wink Hudson and Daquan Riley, Eatontown actress Lorraine Stone, Neptune poet/author Michelle Benjamin, and Bridgette Walker, who will perform classical Indian dance.

Professor Akinsola Akinwolo will speak about the late Baba Olatunji, to whose memory the festival is dedicated this year.

Pierre Brice, Cliffwood Beach, will speak about Haitian Flag Day, and Neptune attorney Kevin Daniels will relate the play to the issue of youth and the criminal justice system.

A festival tradition, a musical procession to the ocean led by a traditional African stiltwalker, will take place following the play.

Admission to the Oceans of Rhythm Festival is $5 and free for children.