The César Manrique Hall of the Agustín de la Hoz House of Culture hosted a press conference this Monday in which details of the Buches de Oro 2024 awards ceremony were announced, which will be held on December 12 at 8:30 p.m. at the social headquarters of the Parranda Marinera.
This historic event, organized by Los Buches with the collaboration of the Arrecife City Council's Department of Culture, directed by Abigail González, is being revived after 18 years of absence, and will pay tribute to two personalities whose life and work have been pillars in the preservation and promotion of the traditions of Arrecife: the artist César Manrique Cabrera, and the businessman Nicolás Martín Placeres.
The meeting with the media was attended by the mayor, Yonathan de León, the Councilor for Culture, Abigail González, the president of Los Buches, Juan Antonio Machado; the art, culture and heritage coordinator of the group, David Machado, and its musical director, Roberto Gil.
During the presentation, Yonathan de León congratulated Los Buches, closely linked to the history of Arrecife, on their wise decision to recover these distinctions.
The mayor highlighted at the press conference that, from the City Council, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the founding of La Parranda Los Buches, "institutional support has been promoted to ensure that they are recognized as Intangible Heritage of the Canary Islands and the subsequent World Heritage Site."
With reference to those distinguished with the Buche de Oro, Yonathan de León celebrates that "they are given to two people closely linked to the history of Arrecife, which commemorates the 225th anniversary of its founding as a municipality: the artist César Manrique, and the entrepreneurial businessman Nicolás Martín, who contributed to the strengthening of commerce in Arrecife, in addition to being one of the promoters of Los Buches in those decades when Lanzarote was opening up to tourism."
For her part, the Councilor for Culture, Abigail González, stated that the recovery of the Buches de Oro awards ceremony, after almost two decades, "marks a historic moment for our city, and for the Department of Culture it is a true pride to support an initiative that symbolizes our cultural identity and reinforces our seafaring roots."
The councilor stressed that this act "not only recovers a tradition, but reaffirms our commitment to the conservation of our customs."
In his speech, Juan Antonio Machado, president of Los Buches, spoke of "a new era of renewal and commitment, in which the association not only seeks to preserve a centuries-old tradition, but also to revitalize it and adapt it to the present, reaffirming its position as a living symbol of the identity of Arrecife."
Thus, he highlighted that "this centuries-old tradition, which gives us meaning as a people of Arrecife, must not be in critical danger of disappearing again. We will do everything in our power to ensure that there are Buches for several centuries more, always keeping our banner high."
The event on December 12 will be dedicated to the memory of Francisco García Sentellas, administrator of the State and navigator of French origin who, in 1624, as butler of the hermitage of San Ginés, financed the construction of the first church in Arrecife. His vision and determination, together with the master stonemason and builder Ginés d’Evora Ginory, of Portuguese, Italian and Spanish descent, laid the foundations for the then port to flourish and become the multicultural and vibrant city that it is today.
Buches de Oro 2024
Nicolás Martín Placeres
For being a founding member and the last representative of a generation that rescued and revitalized a centuries-old tradition after the darkest years of the Franco dictatorship, Nicolás Martín Placeres is more than a custodian of the cultural memory of Arrecife; he is a living icon whose dedication has been fundamental for Los Buches to continue being the soul of the Arrecife carnival.
His unwavering commitment has kept alive a tradition that dates back centuries. His work is not only reflected in his active participation in the group, but also in his contribution to the material heritage of the island, as co-founder of the "Almacén 1940", an electronics store that has been a benchmark for more than two decades.
César Manrique Cabrera
Universal artist, passionate defender of vernacular traditions and close collaborator of Los Buches. César Manrique's relationship with the group is deep and significant. In 1965, together with the artist Manolo Millares, he expressed his emotion by signing the entity's book of honor. But his bond went beyond words.
Manrique painted some of the emblematic masks used by Los Buches, two of which are preserved and will be exhibited in a future museum. His active patronage included frequent visits to the group's headquarters and, on occasions, he put on the traditional costume to experience first-hand the essence of this ancestral custom.
In 1990, he created the original sheet entitled "Los Buches", a work that illustrated the back cover of the album published by the group in 1991. Although at that time it was agreed to award him the Buche de Oro in 1993, his tragic death and other events postponed this well-deserved recognition. Today, after 31 years, this historical debt is settled with someone who did so much for the culture and heritage of Lanzarote.
Program of the event
The event will feature the presence and participation of different personalities and activities that will enrich this celebration:
• Intervention of Local Authorities: The mayor Yonathan de León and the Councilor for Culture Abigail González will share a few words in honor of the honorees.
• Commemorative Speeches: The president Juan Antonio Machado and other members of the association will offer reflections on the meaning of this resurgence and the importance of preserving our roots.
• Poetic Reading: The renowned writer and poet Macarena Nieves Cáceres will delight attendees with a selection of works that evoke the spirit of Arrecife.
• Special Musical Performance: Los Buches will present the unpublished theme "Habanera para Arrecife", with lyrics by the poet Jaime Quesada Martín. This piece is a heartfelt tribute to the seafaring life and cultural legacy of Arrecife. The musicians Adrián Niz, José Vicente and the musical director of Los Buches Roberto Gil will also perform.
Before concluding the press conference held that morning, the art, culture and heritage coordinator of the group, David Machado, expressed his gratitude to the Department of Culture for the subsidy that has allowed the recovery of the delivery of the Buches de Oro, as well as to those private entities that have collaborated to make it possible (Fundación La Caixa, Fundación Romero, Macassar, Decoraciones De León, the Cabrera Medina Business Group and Bodega Titerok-Akaet), in addition to the Art, Culture and Tourism Centers of the Cabildo de Lanzarote.