The Historic City of Yaiza celebrated this Friday the act of awarding the Title of Adoptive Son to Rafael Arozarena Doblado, the author of the novel 'Mararía.
“I am convinced that this recognition that the people of Yaiza give him today would have reached his heart". "A heart that is here, among us, forever", pointed out in his speech Pablo Santos Arozarena, the eldest grandson of the honoree.
"Well, without a doubt, he continues riding on the fire humps of Timanfaya,” he remarked.
As a guest of honor was Elia Arozarena Álamo, daughter of Rafael Arozarena, in addition to María Dolores Corujo, and Óscar Noda and councilors.
Regarding 'Mararía' and the writer, Óscar Noda maintained that “Don Rafael felt he was the depositary of a biography, that of María, Mara or Mararía, and he settled his debt many years later, in 1973, publishing his story in one of the most emblematic novels of the Canary Islands in the 20th century". "He called her a witch and described her as beautiful in the pages of the work he titled, as it could not be otherwise, Mararía”, he concludes.
“Yaiza is a land of culture and opportunities that welcomes all its children, present or absent, with open arms, so welcome the memory and the memory of Don Rafael Arozarena Doblado who, from today, is among the illustrious of this City”, he states.
Daniel Medina, has spoken about 50 years of the publication of 'Mararía' and the 25 years of the production of his film. He also said that “Don Rafael observed nature, felt the inhospitable land, the beating of the wind, the thirst of the rofe, listened to stories and met some and others, taking loose notes that, over the years, he would tie with words, giving rise to a novel that has immortalized the name of Femés, that of Uga, and that of so many real scenarios in Yaiza”, he added.
Óscar Noda presented the Parchment and Medal to the descendants of Rafael Aorazarena, who, represented by his grandson, expressed “the honor and privilege of being able to publicly thank the City Council for naming his grandfather Adoptive Son".
"Everyone knows the close relationship that my grandfather Rafa had with this land and its people", he clarifies. A relationship that "marked not only his literary work, but also his life", he adds. "This mutual attraction, which had its germ in those first visits to the Island, led to a bond unknown to many", he confesses.
In addition, the interpretation of the Vocal Group of Yaiza and the pianist Yasuyo Tsuchiya adorned this act for remembrance.