Axé Summer WorldFest - De Mar y Río

Axé Worldfest and the National Arts Centre join forces for Axé Summer WorldFest 2025, uniting to celebrate global music, diversity, and culture through three unforgettable days of rhythm, connection, and world-class performances in the heart of Ottawa. Each musical act promises a one-of-a-kind experience, uniting diverse musical traditions to create a truly unforgettable experience.

De Mar y Río is the ambassador group of youth and traditional marimba music, as they are the winners of the Petronio Álvarez 2024 Festival. This powerful musical ensemble has 7 years of trajectory, since its members, 10 young people between percussionists and singers, from different territories of the Pacific as Timbiquí, Cali, Guapi, Ladrilleros, El Charco, Iscuandé, and López de Micay, all coincided in Cali, in the bosom of a recognized process of generational relay.

Under the guidance and direction of their teacher from the beginning, the young actor, lawyer, and cultural manager Felipe Amu, they became the ‘De Mar y Río’ for their origins, and from there they have reaped several triumphs that add to their extensive experience on stages such as the Petronio Álvarez (2022 Finalists) (Winners 2024), the Festival Colombia Al Parque, the Festival de Festivales (Santa Marta), the Festival Batata III (Winners 2023), the Top Show Colombo, the Bogota Music Market, the Feria de Cali and Medellin, among others.

They recently toured Ecuador, giving a taste of “Bailen y Gocen” their first studio album, production released on March 1, 2024, and with which they hope to continue entering the music industry worldwide, since their next tour destinations are Mexico, Canada and Sao Paulo, Brazil, because of their elaborate performance proposal, they are recognized for weaving a bridge between tradition and the avant-garde in each of their performances.

Also at Axé Worldfest- immerse yourself in cultural experiences including:

From France: Sarab – an electrifying fusion of European and Arabic influences.

From DRC: Les Mamans Du Congo & Robin – their rhythms transport audiences to the heart of Central Africa.

Each musical act promises a one-of-a-kind experience, uniting diverse musical traditions to create a truly unforgettable experience.