page_title: Barlovento, Venezuela
section_title: Crafts
hierarchical_section_title: Barlovento, Venezuela / Culture / Crafts
caption_attribution_description: English: Venezuela, Barlovento
context_page_description: Barlovento is a sub-region of Miranda state, Venezuela. During Spanish colonization of the Americas, Barlovento was developed as estate owners founded cacao haciendas. The work on the estates was done by African slaves brought from what is now the Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola. These people were from the Kingdom of Kongo and Kingdom of Loango. There were also Yoruba slaves.
  The culture of African and Spanish inhabitants has merged into the "drum dancing", Barlovento's typical Afro-Venezuelan celebration. This occurs particularly at the time of the feast of San Juan. Other events include the Entierro de la Sardina and Day of the Dead. A syncretism has occurred where Catholic saints represent traditional African deities.
context_section_description: The people of Barlovento make sculptures, replicas and trinkets with balsa wood, other local wood and coconuts. These are sold and informally displayed by the sides of the roads. For example, in the village of Yagura, balsa wood replicas of aircraft and military helicopters are seen. Again for example, in the village of Gamelotal, between Caucagua and Tacarigua de Mamporal (Tacarigua de Brión), Adam Expedito López is a local sculptor working with wood and coconuts. He creates pylons, portraits of Bolívar and coconuts with the faces of caciques among others. In Higuerote, artisans produce in wood the birds of the canals and lagoons of Barlovento, including coro-coras, and herons.  
  Hammocks are also made. In Barlovento, and particularly Curiepe, artisans make drums for African dancing. They include the curbata, the mina and the culepuya. The culepuya has three varieties, the prima, cruzao and pujao. Furrucos are also made for making Christmas music.
caption: Roadside kiosk in Barlovento
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