The presentation of the project to recover the traditional clothing of the Parranda Marinera de Buches completed the capacity of the Agustín de la Hoz House of Culture this Thursday. Several people could not access the venue due to the high attendance, a response that evidenced citizen interest in a heritage closely linked to the identity of Arrecife, Lanzarote, and the Canary Islands.
The initiative has allowed for the investigation and recreation of garments related to the old Arrecife carnival of the 19th century, as well as maritime clothing from the late 19th and early 20th centuries linked to the working-class maritime communities and the old Fishermen's Guild. The project has had the support and subsidy of the Government of the Canary Islands.
The event began punctually at 7:00 PM with the intervention of Migdalia Machín Tavío, Minister of Universities, Science, Innovation, and Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands.
Machín stated that the project "allows us to know a part of the history of Arrecife through an element as close as clothing and to understand, through each garment, how the population lived in different eras."
The minister recognized the work of the Parranda Marinera de Buches, "a group that has known how to preserve this tradition and promote rigorous research to recover part of its history," and emphasized the importance of this knowledge reaching young people, "awakening their curiosity and allowing them to approach heritage through questions that can lead them to a broader understanding of the culture and the territory to which they belong."
Representing the Arrecife City Council, Cathaysa Suárez, Councilor for Citizen Participation, Transparency, and Health, intervened. María Ascensión Toledo, Councilor of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, also attended the meeting.
The president of the Parranda Marinera de Buches Association, Juan Antonio Machado Santana, thanked the regional Executive for its support and called for greater involvement from all public administrations.
"We demand greater support from institutions. Local culture, rooted and originating from Arrecife and Lanzarote, is sending out an SOS. Without the empathy and support that the Government of the Canary Islands has provided us, we could hardly have completed this project," he stated.
In less than four years, the entity has reinforced its role as an agent of cultural dynamism through research, dissemination, crafts, music, dance, and community participation projects, while also training a new generation prepared to preserve and transmit this legacy.
Historical research and artisan craft
The artist, researcher, and cultural agent David Machado Gutiérrez, secretary and artistic director of the association, explained the documentation, protection, and safeguarding process developed by the entity for the recognition of this legacy as intangible cultural heritage.
Machado also defended respect for the cultural spaces specific to each manifestation. Los Buches have returned to the ancient entrudo or traditional carnival of Arrecife, their ritual and historical context, while the Parranda Marinera maintains its presence at festivals, cultural gatherings, and protocol events.
The main presentation was given by Professor and researcher Ricardo Reguera, a specialist in the traditional clothing of Lanzarote, La Graciosa, and Fuerteventura. Through images, documentary references, and historical quotes, Reguera explained the evolution of maritime clothing and that of Los Buches and its relationship with work, social differences, celebrations, and the life of coastal communities.
Subsequently, Reguera and Tania Nikolova, an artisan, seamstress, dressmaker, and responsible for the creation of the models, explained the historical and technical elements of each ensemble while the members of the Parranda Marinera and Los Buches displayed the garments to the public.
Born in Bulgaria and residing in Lanzarote, Nikolova is one of the island's outstanding artisans in the field of traditional clothing. The association has relied on her work for its rigor, professionalism, and ability to translate historical research into creation. The question-and-answer session allowed for addressing issues related to fabrics, patterns, artisanal techniques, and the documentary sources used.
The return of the violin and generational change
The presentation included an acoustic performance of Niña bonita, one of the recorded works that form part of the group's historical repertoire.
The performance left one of the most symbolic moments of the day: the violin returned to its place within the Parranda Marinera after nearly two decades of absence. The young Andrea Martel now takes the baton from popular musician Willy Bravo and reinforces the generational handover process promoted by the association.
Standing ovation for Aarón Vera
The program continued at 9:30 PM in the Teatro Chico Cuatro Esquinas, located at the social headquarters of the Parranda Marinera de Buches, with a recital by the guitarist, timple player, and composer from Lanzarote, Aarón Vera Cabrera.
Born in Arrecife in 2007, Aarón began his training at the age of six under the guidance of master Gabriel Cubas. He started with the timple and later with classical guitar. Since 2016, he has been a timple player in the group Los Campesinos.
He is currently pursuing Higher Studies in Classical Guitar Performance and Composition at the Higher Conservatory of Music of the Canary Islands. He has collaborated with musicians and groups such as Germán López, Los Gofiones, Augusto Báez, and Juan Carlos Álamo, and some of his compositions have already been performed at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium as part of the Canary Islands Young Performers series.
For nearly fifty minutes, Aarón Vera offered a journey from the Baroque to 20th-century music, with works from the classical and romantic repertoire, adaptations from other genres, such as jazz, and his own compositions.
The audience bid farewell to the young musician with a long standing ovation. The concert was made possible thanks to the cultural action of the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches and the work of its member Nacho S. Miranda as music producer.
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