“New inscription on the Intangible Heritage list: The joropo in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Congratulations,” announced UNESCO on the social network X, in a message published in Spanish.
The decision, as reported by local media, was made by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee during its 20th session, held in New Delhi, the capital of India.
The joropo is a musical genre and everyday dance of Venezuelans, felt particularly during milking and cattle herding, as well as in family and religious celebrations.
With lyrics describing the everyday life of the people, love stories, and the harsh life in the countryside, it is also a symbol of joy and movement, with the expression “put on your sandals, because what’s coming is joropo” frequently used to express festivity and action.
The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, reacted to UNESCO’s decision, claiming it is a great achievement, a global recognition of the Venezuelan people.
“A great achievement of Venezuela. This is indeed a true worldwide recognition of the people, our culture, and our identity,” he said during a phone call with the Venezuelan state television.
Maduro also emphasized that the “diversity of choreographies, steps, styles” of the joropo is “impressive” and stressed the importance of preserving identity, maintaining, and rescuing traditions.
