The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, celebrated the declaration of Venezuelan joropo (*) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. During an interview on the VTV program «Café en La Mañana” (Coffee in the morning), the Dignitary described this recognition as a historic achievement for national identity.
«A true global recognition to our identity, to our people, to the Venezuelan identity; a world first: the Venezuelan joropo is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,» expressed President Maduro with visible emotion. He emphasized that this achievement represents a triumph of Venezuelan spirituality and culture on the international stage.
The head of state highlighted the richness and diversity of this cultural expression: «The diversity of choreographies, steps, styles, and rhythms of the joropo is impressive.» He reaffirmed the autoctonal nature of this tradition, stating that «we will never dance to the rhythm of any foreign empire,» connecting the joropo to the historical victories of the nation.
The Venezuelan leader extended his congratulations to the Minister for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, the cultural team that led the nomination efforts, and the diplomatic group at the Venezuelan embassy to UNESCO.
He also acknowledged the citizens who worked on preparing the dossiers that documented this tradition: «Truly, it is a bright dawn for a Homeland that is advancing in the integral offensive, with culture, with its integrity, with the pride of its Venezuelan identity always at the forefront,» established the president, linking this cultural achievement to national progress.
Minister Villegas announced that from this Tuesday until next Wednesday, joropo exponents and cultors will celebrate this recognition at the San Carlos Barracks in Caracas. He also revealed that the dossier is already being prepared to nominate the hallaca (traditional Venezuelan Christmas dish) as a world heritage item, thus continuing the international recognition of Venezuelan traditions.
(*): The Joropo is a traditional Venezuelan music form and rhythm, mostly typical of the Llanos (plains) region, but with several variants and ramifications that vary across the different geographical regions of the country.