Last Wednesday, at 7:00 PM, the headquarters of the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches hosted a new session of the educational and cultural project Ensayos de Salitre y Sal, an initiative aimed at disseminating the heritage, history, music, dance, and identity values of the Parranda Marinera and Los Buches among teachers, associations, groups, and visitors interested in getting to know one of Arrecife's oldest traditions up close.
The project is financed by the Arrecife City Council, through competitive grants in the cultural field, with a 50% contribution.
On this occasion, the invited entity was the Asociación Acciones Unidas de Lanzarote, along with its folk dance group Soy Colombia. Its members attended the large halls of the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches headquarters to share an afternoon of meeting, memory, and living culture, where they were able to learn firsthand about the maritime sounds, traditional dances, and the extensive history of a cultural manifestation documented in Arrecife since 1711.
The event also held a very special surprise for the members of the Parranda Marinera and Los Buches: along with Acciones Unidas, the councilwoman Abigaíl González, from the Culture department of the Arrecife City Council, and the Lanzarote artist Rosana Arbelo attended, whose presence was received with great affection by the entity.
The president of the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches, Juan Antonio Machado, expressed his emotion at the visit: "I am very emotional that Rosana has come to our home. I have known her since she was a child and her family was very linked to the sea. It is also a joy for us to receive so many members of our friend association Acciones Unidas."
Rosana received the affection of the members of the Parranda Marinera, Los Buches, and the numerous people from Acciones Unidas Lanzarote who participated in the meeting. The visit thus became an afternoon of coexistence among generations, communities, and different ways of feeling popular culture.
Representing Acciones Unidas was its president, Liliana Bohórquez, who conveyed her gratitude to the host entity: "Being in the home of the Parranda Marinera de Buches is a great pride. It connects us with the history of this city and creates fraternal bonds between communities."
During the session, the artist, cultural manager, and art director of the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches, David Machado, offered an explanation on the historical and ethnographic aspects of the tradition. Rubén Valiente, dance director, joined this intervention, highlighting the importance of preserving heritage, generational transmission, and respect for traditional forms.
One of the most significant moments of the afternoon was the participation of the young talent from the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches, who explained step by step various details of the traditional attire. The work process linked to the new buches project was also shown, a line of research and continuity aimed at ensuring the future of this cultural expression.
Councilwoman Abigaíl González highlighted the importance of these types of initiatives: "Supporting cultural projects that foster encounters between groups, associations, and the general public is fundamental for our identity cultural forms to remain alive. I congratulate the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches for such a powerful cultural program and for their dedication to the city."
The artist Rosana enjoyed the evening watching the Parranda Marinera dance, sing, and play their instruments. The emotion was particularly visible when she saw young and old participating together in a display of living, accessible, and shared traditional culture.
At the end of the meeting, Rosana signed the entity's Book of Honor, which features names as relevant to Canarian culture as César Manrique or Efidio Alonso.
The afternoon served to introduce Lanzarote's Colombian community to one of Arrecife's oldest and most original traditions, represented by the Parranda Marinera and Los Buches. As a sign of this cultural connection, the Asociación Acciones Unidas and the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches exchanged gifts and recognitions, in a gesture of respect, gratitude, and fraternity between communities.
This meeting also opens the door to future collaborations between the Asociación Parranda Marinera de Buches and Acciones Unidas, with the aim of continuing to build joint projects based on heritage, coexistence, popular culture, and mutual recognition.
Add La Voz de Lanzarote as a preferred Google source.
Stay informed with the latest current news.