Colombian and American culture intertwined this Thursday night during a magical evening in which both countries gave a sample of the best they have to offer and how much they are united.
More than 2,500 people, including prominent personalities from both countries, Colombians living abroad and dozens who traveled just for the occasion, gathered at the Kennedy Center, the most important cultural space in the US, to enjoy for almost two hours with the most representative music and dance of both nations. From joropo, cumbia and currulao, to gospel, jazz and country.
(Also read: This is how Colombia and the US commemorate 200 years of diplomatic relations)
We gladly commemorate the #COLUSA200Yearsalongside great friends of Colombia who work daily to strengthen the historic bilateral relations, which are consolidated in trade, investment, security cooperation and the fight against #ClimateCrisis. pic.twitter.com/KqIMHWyXXe
– Ivan Duke 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) June 3, 2022
The event was part of the set of celebrations that have been organized to commemorate 200 years of bilateral relations and that officially take place on June 19.
And it was attended by President Iván Duque, Vice President Marta Lucia Ramírez and several of the ministers of the current government.
“We feel honored, pleased, privileged to have 200 years of this relationship, of this brotherhood“, said President Duque in a speech that served as an appetizer to set up the event and in which he took the opportunity to call for the defense of democracy on the eve of the Summit of the Americas, which will be held next week.
It is a real pride to celebrate #COLUSA200Years🇨🇴🇺🇸; 200 years in which we have shown that when it comes to defending the roots of everything we believe in, nothing limits us, thus allowing our societies to grow over time. pic.twitter.com/EbOe9UlFbX
– Ivan Duke 🇨🇴 (@IvanDuque) June 3, 2022
“We are gathered here -said the president- because democracy makes us great. And we have to continue protecting and defending democracy because that is what has united us since day one.”
(You may be interested in: United States: ‘We have been slow to de-narcoticize the agenda with Colombia’)
The night began with honors to the national pavilions in which military personnel from both countries participated, followed by the national anthems of Colombia and the United States performed by The American Pops Orchestra, to which three Colombians were invited, who are part of the program of music from the University of Kent.
Then, the stage was filled with the colors and rhythms of Enchantment, the latest Disney movie which is based in Colombia. The singer Carolina Gaitán, who does the voice of Pepa and Mauro Castillo who plays Félix, another of the central characters, delighted the audience with a version of “No se Habla de Bruno”, the most popular song in the film.
The event continued with a tour of the Colombian Pacific and Caribbean with presentations by Mojarra Eléctrica, Herencia de Timbiquí, Vallenatera Diana Burco and singer Victoria Saavedra.
And it was paired with a Gospel section performed by Morgan James, an actress and singer who has participated in several Broadway musicals.
From there he went to the plain with a show organized by the government of Meta of dancers from Joropo -who are on tour promoting an international tournament-, and the music of Cholo Valderrama, one of the greatest exponents of this genre in the country.
Billy Gilman, a multi-Grammy nominated country singer, served as the American counterpart for this segment of the show.
(Keep reading: Colombia and the US: this is how 200 years of bilateral relations will be celebrated)
The Colombian soprano Betty Garcés and the American mezzo-soprano Hannah Shea later joined their voices for the ‘Dueto de las Flores’, an area of the opera Lakmé, by Leo Delibes.
But perhaps one of the most impressive and colorful moments of the night was when Members of the Barranquilla Carnival took the stage, accompanied by musicians and singers from the Baranoa Band.
Congos, marimondas, scribbles and cumbiamberas swallowed the stage with their sample, which was sponsored by the government of Atlántico.
The other carnival, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, was carried out by the Sugartone Brass Band, a wind and percussion band that performed jazz and blues pieces.
Chabuco, the soul legend Patti LaBelle and the Colombian group Piso 21 closed for a night that, as ambassador Juan Carlos Pinzón said, sought to celebrate the specialness of the relationship between the two countries.
Wilmer Valderrama, the well-known Fez in the television series That 70s Show and the Colombian Laura Tobón operated as masters of ceremonies for the event.
SERGIO GOMEZ MASERI
Correspondent of THE TIME
Washington
On twitter @sergom68
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