Colombians and Venezuelans in discussion by the joropo – Music and Books – Culture

The Colombian interpreter of joropo Orlando ‘El Cholo’ Valderrama is still calm at his farm in Casanare. Say what He has never thought of campaigning to reclaim the joropo, that music that we share with Venezuela, as an exclusively Colombian cultural heritage.

However, a discussion outside of him, which began in networks, put him in the eye of the hurricane, as a target of angry darts from the other side of the border.

Then he learned that he was “accused”, along with other artists, such as Walter Silva and the Venezuelan Reynaldo Armas, of organizing to present the joropo as a Colombian heritage before Unesco.

He learned of the exchange of phrases and arguments of folklorists from one side and the other and that he was even accused of having bought the Latin Grammy, in 2008 (in the category of best folk album), a historic Grammy for the joropo, because it was the first time that an exponent of llanera music got a gramophone at that award.

(You may be interested in: The story of the song that Cholo Valderrama had lost and how he got it back).

The discussion took on such a dimension that the governor of Meta, Juan Guillermo Zuluaga, intervened, from a virtual forum, to highlight not only that everything was false, but to express his disagreement for the mistreatment received by El Cholo and Walter Silva, by angry Venezuelan artists.

“Some Venezuelan artists have had a rude, insolent behavior (…), disobedient towards us, towards this land that has welcomed them with affection,” said the Governor. Someone in Venezuela said that in the Meta they were trying to get Unesco to recognize us as the cradle of llanera music, as if we appropriated it. I don’t think there is a person with that level of foolishness, who has thought about that (…) At least in what has to do with the institutionality, it has never been considered ”.

Immediately, the president clarified that “apparently someone said that it would be necessary to think about Unesco recognizing the International Joropo Tournament”. The Tournament is a festival dedicated to this music and its culture, which is held in Villavicencio and usually welcomes artists from both countries.

(You may be interested in: The story of a joropo artist at Gabo’s Nobel ceremony).

And it seems that from the idea of ​​getting for the tournament -and not for the world of the joropo- a recognition like the one that the Barranquilla Carnival already has, all the misunderstanding was generated. “It would be a legitimate right that we would have,” said the governor about this possibility.

But it would be a different discussion.

“So, many Venezuelans who have come here to check in, who have been hired by the Government of Meta,” added the Governor, “who have been hired by the majority of municipalities in the department, left and dispatched themselves with all kinds of expletives. I want to come out in defense of our artists (…) El Cholo Valderrama, who was disrespected (…) they disrespected Walter Silva, even a great friend from Colombia, such as Reynaldo Armas ”. .

(Further: Riders of Paradise, the most vivid portrait of the Plain).

And he referred with his own name to the artists Reina Lucero and Scarlet Linares. “I am going to propose that they be banned in the entire department of Meta, at least while it is governedr, and I am going to send a letter to the governors of Arauca, Vichada and Casanare, so that we can come out in defense of our artists. In social networks they say that there are no Colombian-Venezuelan plains (…) that we are from vallenatos and cumbia, but not from llanera music ”.

And he ended by saying that llanera music – referring to joropo – is as Venezuelan as ours.

(Read also: Llanera music has always hit without reggaetting it).

Given this, both Cholo Valderrama – already aware of what was happening – and Walter Silva thanked the support.

“Music does not recognize borders or political colors,” Silva wrote on his Twitter. “Music belongs to the people and the people are one. El Llano is a single culture without borders. The Orinoco does not know where Venezuela begins or where Colombia ends. Neither does the Arauca River or the Meta River know. ”

In another of his trills, Silva wrote: “I especially thank the Governor of Meta @JuanGZuluaga for his support and determined support for folklore. Timely call for attention to respect, unity, gratitude and not to vindicate individuals who want to sow discomfort and division among the joroperos! “

For his part, on his Twitter account, Cholo Valderrama wrote: “Arauca does not separate, Arauca embraces.” And he intends not to make any more comments on that social network or to get involved to discuss or participate.

In a brief conversation with EL TIEMPO, ‘El Cholo’ said that it was better not to enlarge the problem any further and that, although he appreciates the support in the face of attacks on networks, the artist prefers to concentrate on his music. “It is better to continue seeking the union of peoples,” he concluded.

Liliana Martínez Polo
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