The musical and theatrical spectacle will take over Plaza de Santa Ana on May 29th, after involving more than 500 artists and researchers.
Hundreds of students will star in the project 'The Island of My School and Family Life' on Friday, May 22nd in Vecindario
The "Island of My Life" Festival will be an expression of the island's cultural diversity, blending tradition with a modern approach. Furthermore, the 21 compositions that pay homage to the identity of each of Gran Canaria's municipalities within the choral performance of music, spoken word, and theater, Attindamana, will create a new sonic and emotional map of the island, the president of the Island Council, Antonio Morales, affirmed today.
This was stated by the island president at a press conference held in the Cabildo courtyard to present one of the songs that will be part of the Attindamana show, entitled 'Song to Sharecropping,' performed live by Belén Álvarez, Ner Suárez, Javier Cerpa, and Víctor Batista. The official festival video was also screened.
“We are witnessing a great musical expression of what is currently being done in music in Gran Canaria, which will leave a lasting artistic legacy and a portrait of the territory through art,” summarized Antonio Morales, accompanied by the Councilor for Economic Development, Minerva Alonso, and the producer Mario Vega.
The president of the Cabildo thanked the teams from the Department of Economic Development, Infecar, the organizing entity, Fedac, the Presidency and the production company, Una Hora Menos, as well as the more than five hundred artists, researchers and investigators who have been involved in the initiative.
The Festival program will make its main stop on May 29th in the Plaza de Santa Ana in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with free admission. Following the parade that will begin at 7:30 pm in San Telmo Park with the Firgas Band and the Papahuevos (traditional figures), the highlight of the program will be illuminated at 8:30 pm: the musical-theatrical performance Attindamana ('The sound of a people, the heartbeat of an island').
Attindamana is a large-scale production featuring over 500 artists, conceived as a profound and contemporary tribute to the identity of the island's 21 municipalities. Directed by a collaborative team that fosters connections among diverse artists, the core creative and directing group includes Mario Vega, Belén Álvarez Lajalada, Víctor Batista, Ner Suárez, Manuel Abrante, Ruth Sánchez, and Javier Cerpa.
Attindamana stands as an ambitious and determined endeavor to achieve a fundamental goal: to develop a new and lasting repertoire for Canarian folk music. More than just a unique event, it represents an investment in future heritage, creating a legacy of 21 songs that will become part of the Gran Canaria songbook, enriching the foundation of our folk music so that they endure and stand the test of time.
Attindamana, in short, is one of the largest concentrations of local artistic talent linked to an island cultural event that involves, among others, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra, the Parranda Araguaney, Umiaya, Mujeres D, Raíces Atlántikas, Los Serenquenquenes, folk groups and municipal collectives and more than forty vocal and instrumental performers.
The closing night of May 29th will feature the premiere of the new edition of After Hours: The Mixtape. This project is led by DJ Saot ST, a renowned producer and filmmaker who has dedicated his career to promoting young talent in the islands' urban culture.
Project 'The Island of My School and Family Life'
Before that, on Friday, May 22, in the Plaza de San Rafael in Vecindario, and also with free admission, the great children's and youth folk festival will take place in the educational centers in the morning and in music schools in the afternoon.
The project "The Island of My School and Family Life" was born as a natural extension of celebrating our identity, with the firm purpose of placing traditional music at the heart of everyday learning. The School Festival will bring together more than 650 students from primary, secondary, and special education schools, representing the diversity of 15 municipalities across the island.
This initiative is part of the Isla de mi Vida 2026 Festival, not only to highlight the Canarian content taught in schools, but also to transform that knowledge into a shared experience. “By taking music out of the classroom and into the public square, we turn folklore into a tool for social cohesion and generational pride,” argued Antonio Morales.
