Loíza Festival

Puerto Rico’s African heritage is front and center in the town of Loíza. The Loíza area served as a settlement for the Nigerian peoples originally brought in as slaves by the Spaniards. St. James Festival in the last week of July is an annual folk and religious ceremony that honors St. James the Apostle. The carnival-like celebration features costumes, masks, parades, and bomba dancers, and reflects the African and Spanish heritage.








Getting Low










This group of people ask me to take their picture because they thought I was from the San Juan newspaper.


Loiza is a unique town full of culture and traditions. It honestly did not seem like I was in Puerto Rico. They even invited me to join them in having a drink. I will never forget how nice they were.