History is also written in silence, with hands hardened by work and a soul sown with perseverance. This is how those who, on the night of last Saturday, filled the capacity of the Santo Domingo Convent in La Villa de Teguise, understood it, to pay tribute to those women who have been the backbone of the land and the sea; the rural women of Teguise and La Graciosa.
The imposing venue, laden with centuries and symbolism, was the setting chosen by the Teguise City Council to celebrate the emotional Act of Recognition of Rural Women, a gathering where memory, tradition, and music intertwined to honor those who, without making noise, have left a profound mark on the local identity.
The event was attended by councilors Ana Nereida González, head of the Equality Area, and Myrian Jorge, head of the Agriculture Area. It was González who opened the evening with a speech that resonated deeply with the audience.
"To speak of the rural women of Teguise and La Graciosa is to speak of deep roots, of that silent strength that does not need grand gestures to leave its mark," she began, evoking the figure of those women who understand the rhythms of the land and the sea, who transform daily work into art and culture.
She proudly named those who have kept alive trades such as agriculture, livestock farming, beekeeping, crafts, pottery, or the making of wine, cheese, and rosettes. Trades that are living heritage. Women who have not only known how to preserve tradition, but have also known how to look to the future, adapting, innovating, and demonstrating that rural life is not synonymous with backwardness, but with resilience and progress from the root.
After their remarks, the 11 women recognized in this edition took to the stage, where they received a sculpture specially created for the occasion from both councilors. The applause, warm and prolonged, was as deserved as it was heartfelt. After the formal photo, the stage was set for what would be the grand finale of the evening.
'Ecos de Mujer': When Music Also Pays Tribute
What followed was more than a show; it was a gift to the soul. The musical project Ecos de Mujer (Echoes of Women), produced by the renowned Grupo de Música Popular Acatife, brought 14 women with unique vocal ranges to the stage, performing with emotion and authenticity some of the group's most emblematic pieces: El Diablo de Timanfaya, Se va mi Barco, Entre la mar y la Tierra, Seguidillas, Mi pueblo y César, Folias del Alma, and Plañideras, among others.
The female voices, supported by the members of Acatife, resonated with strength and sweetness under the magnificent acoustics of the convent, making it clear why this venue is so appreciated by artists and audiences alike. It was a sonic experience charged with emotion, with nuances that pierced the hearts of those listening.
The audience, which filled the permitted capacity, responded warmly, making the honorees feel the love of their people. It was a night to remember, an evening in which the echo of rural women was amplified among centuries-old stones and melodies that speak of land, identity, and pride.
A night that not only celebrated the present, but also vindicated the legacy of so many invisible women who, generation after generation, have sustained the rural soul of these islands. Because without them, neither Teguise nor La Graciosa would be what they are.