The Arrecife City Council has held an emotional and endearing tribute to the Los Buches marine band on its 60th anniversary. The event took place at 12:00 noon this Sunday on the stage of the Islas Canarias Park.
The Councilor for Festivities, Encarna Páez Toledo, began the event recognizing "everything that the legacy means for the city of Arrecife, Lanzarote and the Canary Islands" which to this day is a reference of identity forming part of the cultural heritage and that must be supported by all public institutions so that it continues with its songs cheering our city, towns and streets.
Next, the mayor of Arrecife, Astrid Pérez, gave an extensive overview of the history of carnival in Lanzarote, which dates back to the late nineteenth century when the French anthropologist René Vernau, referred to the background of Los Buches, how during the carnival the streets of Arrecife presented an animation that would not have suspected seeing the deathly silence that reigned there a few weeks before.
She also recalled that the City Council has approached the Government of the Canary Islands to grant the Gold Medal 2023 to Los Buches and also bring this tradition to schools so that future generations make them their own and endure over time.
Immediately afterwards, the current president of Los Buches, José Julián Villanueva, took the stage to receive the award, a bronze sculpture of the Puente de las Bolas, symbol of the city of Arrecife. A very excited José Julián addressed the authorities and the general public thanking on behalf of Los Buches the recognition with which they were distinguished today. Then began the musical performance, first performing the song entitled Chiquilla mía, joining the dance corps where Los Bucheros were doing their thing giving the odd buchazo to the most clueless who passed by.
