Colombia: The Nature of Culture
odd: label: Introduction
content: Colombia is located in a strategically important corner of South America between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. From south to north, the Andean chain ascends from Chile and opens into an impressive triple range of high mountains interspersed by two valleys. From coast to coast, extensive lowlands stretch towards the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, into the broad eastern plains, and the Amazonian rainforest. Over time, its inhabitants have adapted to these natural highland and lowland environments, transforming them in a variety of ways in order to ensure their survival. As they grapple with the challenges posed by the rugged geography; the effects of an earlier economic development strategy based on mineral extraction, export, and depletion of natural resources; and the violence from warring factions that represent clashing national and international interests, Colombians have shown profound resilience and creativity in forging a rich cultural heritage of skills and knowledge, memories and traditions, religious faith and dreams that provide the ground for a better world for their children.

The resulting symbiosis of culture and nature - the rich and diverse cultural ecosystems - provided the organizing principle of the 2011 Festival program on Colombia. The program featured a sampling of these traditions in the six ecosystems and three urban contexts that form part of the broad panorama of the country's cultural nature. In each cultural ecosystem, local populations have developed distinctive ways of managing natural resources through cultural practices that include stories and legends, song and dance, food preparation, healing practices, craft-making skills, fishing techniques, and building traditions. As contingents from each of these ecosystems showed Festival visitors, transformations in Colombia's cultural traditions are in permanent dialogue with the natural environment. The nature of culture, in other words, derives from Colombia's unique culture of nature.

The cities of Bogotá, Medellín, and Cali sit at the crossroads between diverse regions and ecosystems, where the rural and urban, the national and international, converge. Beginning in the twentieth century, the social, economic, and cultural vibrancy of these cities has attracted a steady stream of migrants from rural areas seeking lifestyle and employment options not available in their farming communities. The growing interdependence between tradition and modernity evident in Colombia's cities has set in motion changes in the customs, habits, and occupations associated with daily life, giving rise to new cultural patterns. These cities have become cosmopolitan centers where one can observe the intersection of cultural, religious, and artistic trends from around the world, and at the Festival these sites of convergence and intersection were also highlighted.

The 2011 Festival celebrated the country's rich bio-cultural diversity. One hundred Colombian artists traveled to the National Mall in Washington to sing, dance, tell stories, prepare food, and demonstrate religious ceremonies and occupational practices. Basket weavers, jewelry makers, cowboys, mule packers, jeep drivers, among others, demonstrated the wisdom, creativity, and commitment that grows out of a profound understanding of the land one inhabits.

Olivia Cadaval and Margarita Reyes Suárez were Curators, and Cristina Díaz-Carrera was Program Coordinator. An Advisory Committee included: Inés Cavelier, Ramiro Delgado Salazar, Janeth Reyes Suárez, Carlos Rodríguez, and Enrique Sánchez. Within Colombia, Mónika Therrien was Research Coordinator and Director of Erigaie, and Sandra Marcela Durán, Juanita García Caro, Germán Ferro Medina constituted the Curatorial Team. Ana María Arango, Carlos Beltrán, Nágila Garrido, Enrique Maldonado, Daniel Matapí, and Darío Robayo were Regional Coordinators

The program was produced in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Colombia with the support of the Embassy of Colombia in Washington, D.C., and the Fondo de Promoción Turística de Colombia. Major Donor support came from the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation and the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. Additional Donors to the program included Caterpillar Inc. and Occidental Petroleum Corporation. Citi, ExxonMobil, NTN24, Proexport, and UNESCO were Contributors to the program. The Bogotá Mayor's Office and the US-Colombia Business Partnership were Supporters of the program.
label: Researchers
content: Natalia Angarita, Ana María Arango, Lina Cortés, Ramiro Delgado Salazar (Anthropology, Universidad de Antioquia), Ingrid Díaz, Sandra Marcela Durán, Germán Ferro Medina, Catalina García Chaves, Mónica Hernández, Fernando López Vega, Janeth Reyes Suárez, Carlos A. Rodríguez (Tropenbos International), María Angélica Rodríguez Ibáñez, Antonio Tobón
label: Presenters
content: Olga Elena Acosta Ossa, Martín Andrade Pérez, Catalina Cavelier Adarve, Xóchitl C. Chávez, Rámiro Delgado Salazar, Eduardo Díaz, María Firmino-Castillo, Ingrid Frederick Obregón, Catalina García Chaves, León García, Catalina Gómez Arbeláez, Paulina Guerrero, Kiley Guyton Acosta, Enrique Lamadrid, Fernando López Vega, Ángela María Medellín Muñoz, René Montero Serrano, Jimena Perry Posada, Lucía Pulido Reyes, Janeth Reyes Suárez, María Angélica Rodríguez Ibáñez, Daniela Rodríguez Uribe, Juan Sebastián Rojas Enciso, Camilo Ruiz Sánchez, Silvia Salgado, Carolina Santamaría Delgado, Silvia M. Serrano, Emily Socolov, Nafice Yassine Yohaid
label: Participants
content: ANDEAN HIGHLANDS

Dora Flor Alba Briceño, 1958-, basket weaver, Ráquira, Boyacá, Colombia

Guillermo Bautista Espitia, 1954-, ceramicist, Ráquira, Boyacá, Colombia

Alba Herminda Beltrán, 1963-, cook, hat maker, Gachantivá, Boyacá, Colombia

Juan César Bonilla González, 1963-, tagua craftsperson, Tinjacá, Boyacá, Colombia

María Florinda Coy Castilla, 1961-, cook, basket weaver, Sutamarchán, Boyacá, Colombia

Areli Hernández Vega, 1975-, basket weaver, Ráquira, Boyacá, Colombia

Rosa María Jérez Ruíz, 1962-, ceramicist (religious sculpture), Ráquira, Boyacá, Colombia

Ana Dolores Russi Suárez, 1953-, wool weaver (sewing, crochet, and knitting), Sutamarchán, Boyacá, Colombia

El Pueblo Canta,  -- carranga --  music and dance group  -- El Pueblo Canta, carranga music and dance groupJulio Álvaro Suesca Acuña, 1955-, director, musician (requinto), instrument maker, Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaLaura Jeannette Alba Díaz, 1968-, dancer, Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaJorge Alberto Rodríguez Sanabria, 1971-, dancer, Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaGiovanni Suárez Torres, 1980-, musician (small percussion), instrument maker, Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaDanny Leonel Suesca Niño, 1983-, musician (guitar, cane flute), Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaEdixon Julián Suesca Niño, 1977-, musician (small percussion), instrument maker, Tuta, Boyacá, ColombiaEduardo Vega Guerrero, 1981-, musician (tiple), instrument maker, Tuta, Boyacá, Colombia

COFFEE REGION

Jhon Jairo Amortegui Piña, 1969-,  -- yipero --  (jeep driver and loader), Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia

María Dilia Dávila Ríos, 1968-, hat maker, Aguadas, Caldas, Colombia

María Yolanda Franco García, 1958-, cook, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Lida Isabel Hernández Dávila, 1998-, hat maker, Aguadas, Caldas, Colombia

José Carlos Jiménez Jaramillo, 1959-,  -- guadua --  bamboo builder, Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia

Leonel de Jesús Loaiza Muñoz, 1955-, mule driver, Concordía, Antioquia, Colombia

Ana de Jesús Marín de Giraldo, 1950-, basket weaver, Filandia, Quindío, Colombia

Ofelia Marín Márquez, 1965-, basket weaver, Filandia, Quindío, Colombia

José Alexander Salazar Tapiero, 1981-, coffee grower, Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia

Jorge Iván Valencia Londoño, 1962-, coffee grower, Dos Quebradas, Pereira, Colombia

Aires del Campo, string music group  -- Aires del Campo, string music groupManuel José Cadavid Cataño, 1956-, director, musician (tiple), Girardota, Antioquia, ColombiaOscar de Jesús Cadavid Cataño, 1949-, musician (first bandola), Girardota, Antioquia, ColombiaJorge Enrique Cadavid García, 1954-, musician (guacharaca), Girardota, Antioquia, ColombiaElkin de Jesús Meneses Rojo, 1951-, musician (second bandola), Girardota, Antioquia, ColombiaFernán de Jesús Rojo Meneses, 1970-, musician (guitar), Girardota, Antioquia, Colombia

MOMPOSINO DEPRESSION

Juan José Flórez Rodríguez, 1978-, canoe maker, wood carver, San Sebastián, Magdalena, Colombia

Mery Margoth Gándara de Barrera, 1948-, cook, Mompox, Bolívar, Colombia

Tobías Herrera Turizo, 1964-, religious art sculptor, Mompox, Bolívar, Colombia

Anilis María Meza Tous, 1974-, hammock maker, textile weaver, Morroa, Sucre, Colombia

Óscar Pupo, 1983-, cheese maker, Mompox, Bolívar, Colombia

Luis Enrique Ramírez Orozco, 1983-, filigree jewelry craftsperson, Mompox, Bolívar, Colombia

Don Abundio y sus Traviesos, music and dance group  -- Don Abundio y sus Traviesos, music and dance groupSamuel Mármol Villa, 1954-, director, singer, dancer, instrument maker, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaGustavo Cantillo Avilés, 1984-, dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaDania Elkis Felizzola Morales, 1981-, musician (gaita macho, guache), dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaJaison Mármol Ruidiaz, 1978-, musician (tambor alegre), Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaSamuel Mármol Ruidiaz, 1984-, musician (cane flute, guache, tambor alegre), dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaYaniz Mármol Ruidiaz, 1981-, llamador, musician (guache), dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaJorge Enrique Montes Villa, 1984-, musician (tambora), dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaJulio César Ortíz Madrid, 1968-, dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaNeil Palomino Trespalacios, 1978-, dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaPedro Germán Rodríguez Arrieta, 1982-, dancer, Mompox, Bolívar, ColombiaDamaris Sayas Gómez, 1980-, singer, Talamaque, César, ColombiaGustavo del Cristo Vergara Alvarado, 1968-, musician (tambora), Mompox, Bolívar, Colombia

PACIFIC TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Ziomara Asprilla García, 1976-, hair braider and stylist, Istmina, Chocó, Colombia

Baudilio Guama Rentería, 1947-, marimba instrument maker and musician, Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Rufa Herrera de Perea, 1937-, cook, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

Francisco Mena Palacios, 1959-, filigree jewelry craftsperson, Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Leonor Palacios Rentería, 1949-, fiber and textile craftsperson, Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Casimiro Perlaza Mena, 1982-, carpenter, wood carver, Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Migdonio Rivas Rico, 1945-, chirimía instrument maker, Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

Cantaoras de Alabaos del Pacífico, singing group  -- Cantaoras de Alabaos del Pacífico, singing groupCruz Neyla Murillo Mosquera, 1961-, singer, azotea gardener, Andagoya, Chocó, ColombiaLeonor Murillo de Bush, 1954-, singer, San Andrés, San Andrés, ColombiaZully Murillo de Caicedo, 1944-, singer, Cali, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaFulvia Ruiz Ibarguen, 1949-, singer, artisanal miner, Andagoya, Chocó, Colombia

Chirimía La Contundencia,  -- chirimía --  music group  -- Chirimía La Contundencia, chirimía music groupLeonidas Valencia Valencia, 1964-, director, musician (saxhorn), Quibdó, Chocó, ColombiaRick Lludson Montealegre Rodríguez, 1970-, musician (snare drum), Quibdó, Chocó, ColombiaTomás Domingo Moreno Córdoba, 1978-, musician (clarinet), Quibdó, Chocó, ColombiaAbdo Abel Murillo Mosquera, 1951-, musician (tambora), Quibdó, Chocó, ColombiaLeonidas Valencia Peña, 1986-, musician (cymbals), Quibdó, Chocó, Colombia

SOUTHEASTERN PLAINS

Ramiro Moreno Yepes, 1952-, wood carver, Paz de Ariporo, Casanare, Colombia

Joel Pérez Chávez, 1944-, cook, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia

Álvaro Rey Almeda, 1956-, cook, bread oven mason, San Martín, Meta, Colombia

Carlos Humberto Rivera Vargas, 1952-, cattle ranching craftsperson, San Martín, Meta, Colombia

Augusto Hernán Rodríguez López, 1963-,  -- joropo --  instrument maker, Granada, Meta, Colombia

Hermes Romero Vidal, 1963-, hammock maker, leather craftsperson, Paz de Ariporo, Casanare, Colombia

Jairo Yepes Gaitán, 1963-, wood carver, Paz de Ariporo, Casanare, Colombia

Grupo Cabrestero,  -- joropo --  music and dance group  -- Grupo Cabrestero, joropo music and dance groupFélix Chaparro Rivas, 1971-, musician (bandola), Aguazul, Casanare, ColombiaVíctor Cenón Espinel Sánchez, 1956-, singer, Maní, Casanare, ColombiaFreddy Calixto Landines Porras, 1985-, musician (cuatro), Aguazul, Casanare, ColombiaArnulfo Pinto García, 1944-, joropo dancer, Cumaral, Meta, ColombiaMagdalena Plazas Lugo, 1961-, joropo dancer, Cumaral, Meta, ColombiaCristián Rafael Rosillo Gutiérrez, 1991-, musician (maracas), Yopal, Casanare, Colombia

AMAZONIAN RAINFOREST

Raquel Andoque Andoque, 1939-, Andoque, ceramicist, weaver, cook, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Virgelina Gómez Rodríguez, 1950-, Uitoto, ceramicist, weaver, cook, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Enrique Hernández, 1980-, Uitoto, fish specialist, wood carver, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Daniel Matapí Yucuna, 1970-, Matapi, craftsperson, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Uldarico Matapí Yucuna, 1959-, Matapi, shaman, craftsperson, Bogotá, Colombia

Abel Rodríguez, 1941-, Nonuya, basket weaver, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Oliverio Rodríguez Muinane, 1951-, Nonuya, basket weaver, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Yaneth Tanimuka, 1972-, Uitoto, ceramicist, cook, singer, dancer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

María Rosa Yucuna de Valencia, 1953-, Yucuna, ceramicist, cook, dancer, singer, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

Rodrigo Yucuna, 1961-, Yucuna, shaman, craftsperson, Pedrera, Araracuara, Caquetá, Colombia

CITY OF MEDELLÍN

Alexander de Jesús Nieto Marín, 1976-, cultivator, florist,  -- silleta --  carrier, Santa Helena, Antioquia, Colombia

Tango de Medellín, tango dance  -- Tango de Medellín, tango danceJohanna Palacios Ruiz, 1980-, dancer, Medellín, Antioquia, ColombiaEdinson Dario Vanegas Amaya, 1971-, dancer, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

CITY OF CALI

Celmira Otero Llanos, 1949-, cook, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Jaime Otero Llanos, 1948-, cook, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Salsa de Cali, salsa dance  -- Salsa de Cali, salsa danceLuz Aydé Moncayo Giraldo, 1967-, dancer, Cali, Valle del Cauca, ColombiaDeivy Johan Zuñiga Jiménez, 1984-, dancer, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

CITY OF BOGOTÁ

Circo Ciudad, circus performance group  -- Circo Ciudad, circus performance groupDiana María Belmonte Ortiz, ColombiaWilmar Guzmán Beltran, 1985-, circus artist, Bogotá, D.C., ColombiaLuis Eduardo Guzmán Cardozo, 1981-, circus artist, Bogotá, D.C., ColombiaCarlos Andrés Niño, 1978-, circus artist, Bogotá, D.C., ColombiaRafael Sebastián Peralta Vasco, 1972-, circus artist, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia

Reciclarte, recycling artists cooperative  -- Reciclarte, recycling artists cooperativeHernando José Ruiz Daza, 1951-, director, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia

SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS CONCERT: MUSIC FROM COLOMBIA—JULY 2

CIMARRÓN  -- CIMARRÓNCarlos Rojas Hernández, 1954-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaAnaveydober Ordóñez Triana, 1967-, musician, dancer, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaLuis Eduardo Moreno Rojas, 1972-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaJorge Leonardo Mesa Pedraza, 1990-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaLuis Dairo Aguilar Puerto, 1992-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaVíctor Julio Rojas Agudelo, 1991- musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaDanilo Ignacio Bustos Ocampo, 1991-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaÁlvaro Enrique Rico Sánchez, 1989-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, Colombia

SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS CONCERT: MUSIC FROM COLOMBIA—JULY 9

GRUPO VALLENATO AYOMBE  -- GRUPO VALLENATO AYOMBELuis Carlos Farfán Brochero, 1979-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaJosé Miguel Vásquez Castillo, 1951-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaEfraín Camilo Díaz Plata, 1963-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaGusmaldo Antonio Kammerer Sierra, 1973- musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, ColombiaReynaldo de Jesús Díaz Córdoba, 1957-, musician, Chia, Cundinamarca, Colombia
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2011, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials