Where the Marimba Meets the Amorfino: Calceta's Afro-Montuvio Festival

On the banks of the Río Mosca in Calceta, Manabí, two coastal traditions came together in 2017: the rhythms of the Afro-Ecuadorian marimba and the playful, improvised verses of the Montuvio amorfino. What began as a gathering of musicians, poets and friends has grown into a three-day festival celebrating its tenth edition this November.

From November 13 to 15, the Casa Cultural Experimental Montuvia will host the X Festival Afro-Montuvio under the theme Memoria en Resistencia (Memory in Resistance).

The festival was born from an encounter organized by cultural promoters including Alexandra Cusme and Linver Nazareno. Their idea was to bring together Afro-Ecuadorian and Montuvio artists whose traditions have developed alongside one another on Ecuador's coast, but are not always celebrated together.

Visitors will hear marimba music, traditional singing and poetry, including amorfinos—short verses that can be romantic, teasing or humorous, often performed as an exchange between speakers. Décimas, storytelling and dance are also part of the programme, with workshops and discussions offering opportunities to learn about the traditions behind the performances.

Food is another part of the experience. Traditional Manabí dishes will be prepared in wood-fired ovens, while a camping area will accommodate visitors who want to stay overnight. The festival's daytime activities will give way to music and performances in the afternoons and evenings.

Organizers are also asking visitors to help protect the nearby Río Mosca watershed by bringing reusable plates, cups and containers. Disposable plastics will not be permitted.

Supported by local cultural groups, the Casa de la Cultura de Manabí and ESPAM university, the festival has remained rooted in the community where it began.

For visitors to Calceta, the attraction is not only watching performances but experiencing two of coastal Ecuador's living cultural traditions in the same place.

Sources: El Diario — X Festival Afro-Montuvio, October 1, 2026 · Festival Afro-Montuvio — Organizers