Carabobo, June 24, 2024.- “Les Espoirs” from Benin filled San Juan festivities in the Venezuelan city of Puerto Cabello, Carabobo state, with their rhythm and tradition.

The group, which arrived in Venezuela last week to participate in “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” event, toured the streets of this city with great historical symbolism for the country, to accompany these celebrations with their music and drum beats.

The Beninese delegation began their day with the traditional San Juan baptism in the Goaigoaza River, an ancestral ceremony symbolizing purification and spiritual rebirth. In this space, all participants dressed in white immersed themselves in the river waters to receive the saint’s blessing.

Subsequently, the “Les Espoirs” visited San Juan de Goaigoaza to delve into the history and significance of this emblematic place in the celebrations of Saint John the Baptist. During this tour, delegation members had the opportunity to interact with locals and get a close look at their customs.

In the afternoon, the delegation moved to San Juan Vencedor, where they joined the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of this cultural space. In this context, the Beninese group provided a colorful performance where they delighted the audience with their music and traditional dance, filling the atmosphere with rhythm and joy.

The encounter “Drums of ALBA: Beats of our identity” brought together more than 400 participants, musical groups, and speakers from Venezuela, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Benin, Grenada, Bolivia, Colombia, Haiti, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, among other countries and special guests.