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Cuban musician Cimafunk is gearing up for a double performance at two of the most important festivals in Louisiana: the Lafayette International Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Fest, where he will bring his Afro-Cuban funk to thousands of spectators in the coming days.
The artist, based in New Orleans since 2022, gave an interview this Wednesday to the channel WGNO where he discussed the power of his music and what he hopes for this festival season.
"People appreciate it. There are those who are looking for new music, new sounds, and they are willing to see what you have to offer them," said the Grammy-nominated artist.
The Lafayette International Festival, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, holds a special place in the artist's memory. "It's like a festival you might see somewhere in Europe during the summer," described Cimafunk.
The musician fondly recalled his previous performances in Lafayette, where the audience, although they did not understand the lyrics in Spanish, responded enthusiastically to the rhythm. "They didn't understand the lyrics, but they felt the vibe. The staging in Lafayette also impressed me. They were ready to start as soon as we arrived," he recounted.
He also shared an anecdote that remained etched in his memory. During a previous performance at the same festival, one of his singers got so caught up in the rhythm that he fell off the stage, although he emerged unscathed. "It was a terrifying moment in the midst of the show," he acknowledged.
For Cimafunk, live concerts have a dimension that goes beyond entertainment. "Freeing your mind, that kind of feeling is what I seek at live concerts," he stated. "I hope they feel good; the main objective is for them to enjoy themselves, that's what I try to achieve with the live shows," he added.
The artist also highlighted the diversity of the audience at the International Festival as one of the aspects he values most about the event. "Latinos, Mexicans, Colombians—when you see them, they all become the same at a certain point. They all move to the rhythm, and I love that," he expressed.
Cimafunk is set to be one of the main artists at the 2026 International Festival, alongside Stephen Marley and Rhiannon Giddens, in a free five-day event expected to draw over 300,000 attendees.
In addition to Lafayette, the musician will perform at the New Orleans Jazz Fest on April 23, reinforcing a schedule that keeps him as one of the Cuban artists with the greatest presence on American stages.
In parallel to his commitments at festivals, Cimafunk revealed that he is working on a new album in Miami alongside producer Emilio Estefan, in a collaboration that had been anticipated since May 2025 when they both shared images from the recording sessions.
This new production comes after their album Pa' Tu Cuerpa (2024), which featured collaborations with George Clinton, Big Freedia, and Trombone Shorty, and following their nomination for the Latin Grammy 2024 for "Catalina".
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