The President of the Canarian Parliament, Astrid Pérez, received on Monday a representation of four groups that have been awarded the Gold Medal of the Canary Islands 2023 for their defense of the popular cultural and festive traditions of the islands. “Through the Parranda Marinera de Los Buches and the Murga Las Revoltosas from Lanzarote; the Afilarmónica Los Nietos de Kika from Gran Canaria, and the Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá from Tenerife, we wanted to pay tribute to the many men and women in our Archipelago who, year after year, make a great effort to keep alive some of the traditions that give us identity as a people,” said Astrid Pérez.
This act of “recognition and gratitude,” included in the program for the Week of the Canary Islands, aims to, in the words of Astrid Pérez, “highlight, also in the Canarian Parliament, the work carried out by these groups, which are the most prominent two philharmonic societies of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the first female murga in the Canary Islands and Los Buches, who have been working for over 60 years to ensure that this old maritime and festive tradition does not die out.”
The Afilarmónica NiFú-NiFá, or simply La Fufa as it is popularly known, was founded in the 1950s, although it wasn’t until 1961 that it took on its current name. It is the oldest murga in the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with around 50 members.
Astrid Pérez received a representation of four groups that are Gold Medalists of the Canary Islands 2023. / La Provincia.
The Afilarmónica Los Nietos de Kika was founded in 1976 in the city of Arucas in Gran Canaria and is another pioneering group in the Carnival of the islands. In its 48-year history, this collective has achieved a gold record in 1985 and was also nominated for the Canarian Popular Culture Award.
The Murga Las Revoltosas, founded in 1983 by eight women from the municipality of San Bartolomé in Lanzarote, was the first female murga in the Canary Islands and, since 1997, also the first female philharmonic society in the islands. They are a benchmark in the local and regional carnival scene.
Astrid Pérez received a representation of four groups that are Gold Medalists of the Canary Islands 2023. / La Provincia.
The Parranda Marinera Los Buches was created in 1963 in Arrecife with the aim of reviving one of the oldest and most maritime traditions of Lanzarote: the buches. This group is known for their peasant clothes, metal masks, and inflated fish bladders that they carry in their hands for dancing, and also for giving some blows to those they encounter along the way. A total of 40 people make up this traditional group today, which keeps alive a tradition dating back, according to the entity, “at least to 1630, with the Dance of The Renegades performed by the Brotherhood of the Sea.” Subsequently, it “evolved until in the 19th century it became the Dance of Buches that we know today.”
Astrid Pérez received a representation of four groups that are Gold Medalists of the Canary Islands 2023. / La Provincia.
Guided Tours Commence
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The Canarian Parliament began its Open Days today, which will run until Saturday, June 1st, to better acquaint the residents of the Archipelago with the institution. This initiative “aims to bring the Parliament closer to the people and make it easier for those who wish to visit our headquarters in Santa Cruz de Tenerife during morning and afternoon hours to learn about the history, heritage, architecture, and functions of this Chamber,” explained President Astrid Pérez.
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From Monday, May 27th to Saturday, June 1st, individuals can come to visit the parliament, guided by specialized staff, between 10:00 and 14:00, and between 17:00 and 20:00. Except on the last day, when only morning hours will be available.
