A vibrant celebration of Brazilian culture, the Tensamba International Festival has returned to Tenerife following its kick-off in Japan with two concerts on 12th and 18th July. TensambaOff, a mini-festival within Tensamba, treated attendees to more than 12 hours of music, workshops, and the promotion of Brazilian culture and the festival’s own history.
On a sunny Saturday, El Médano Square was transformed into a Brazilian hub. The day kicked off at 10:00 a.m. with ‘Tambawa Percusión’, leading a parade through the streets, infusing the community with rhythm.
Next, a fusion of music and sustainability took the spotlight with a workshop on creating musical instruments from recycled materials, led by the talented artist, Alessandro Ferrato. Participants learned to repurpose everyday items into music-making tools with creativity and care.
At midday, a retrospective on the 21-year journey of the Tensamba Festival took place. Photographer Javier Pino captured the festival’s evolution through a photographic exhibition showcasing its most memorable moments. Attendees also had the opportunity to gain insights into Tensamba’s work firsthand, courtesy of a talk by Tomás LP Cruz, the festival’s director and organiser.
To satiate hunger, the Medeiros sisters hosted a Brazilian cuisine workshop around 1:00 p.m., sharing the secrets of the country’s most iconic dishes. Following this, in a bid to cool off the El Médano heat, Carlos Álamo led a cocktail workshop, concocting refreshing summer drinks with a Brazilian twist.
The afternoon saw the return of ‘Tambawa Percussion’ with another spirited parade, accompanied by workshops on Capoeira by Camugerê Capoeira, Brazilian Flora by Glauce Lima, Samba Dance by Renata Farías, and Percussion by Cartu, all infusing the square with rhythm and movement.
The grand finale of the event featured performances by Muita Maré and Maracatú 4uno, captivating attendees who had gathered in Plaza de El Médano, bringing the day of celebration to a lively close.
