The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, announced during his «Con Maduro +» program that in the coming days the official Certificate of Inscription of Venezuelan Joropo (*) and its diversity on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will be received from UNESCO. This certificate will be symbolically presented to the practitioners of more than 16 styles of joropo who dance and sing throughout the country.
“Let’s get ready to dance joropo! In the coming days we will receive the Certificate (…) and we will present it to the joropo dancers,” said the Head of State, who recalled that the recognition was granted on December 9 during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee in New Delhi, India. The president highlighted that this nomination emphasized the rich coexistence of the different variations of this cultural manifestation, which integrates dance, song, and music.
A cultural bridge with Colombia:
In a gesture that reaffirms the shared nature of the Llanos (plains region) tradition, President Maduro instructed the Minister of People’s Power for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, to extend an official invitation to joropo practitioners in Colombia, particularly from the Casanare region:
“I told Minister Ernesto Villegas to invite our joropo brothers and sisters from Colombia, from Casanare, to come and dance joropo here,” he said. This invitation seeks to transform the certificate presentation into a binational brotherhood gathering, demonstrating that joropo is a cultural bridge and an achievement that honors the entire Llanos region shared by both countries.
Recognition of a living tradition:
The Joropo, recognized by UNESCO as a “living festive tradition that arises from the encounter between diverse populations,” combines poetry, song, and dance, and uses instruments such as the Venezuelan harp, the cuatro, maracas, violin, and accordion. Its inscription as a World Heritage Site celebrates not only its artistic value, but also its role as an element of identity and social cohesion for Venezuelan and Colombian communities.
The upcoming certificate presentation ceremony is therefore envisioned as an act of cultural affirmation and integration, honoring the bearers of this tradition and highlighting its significance as a shared heritage.
(*): 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.