Cuba-Mexico proposal to proclaim Bolero Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Mexico City, May 17 (RHC) -- La Jornada newspaper published today an interview with official Silvia Olivera, who is leading on the Mexican side the process of Cuba and Mexico's proposal to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, with a view to proclaiming the bolero intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

According to the binational dossier "Bolero, identity, emotion and poetry made song" contains the arguments of both countries for the romantic genre to be included, next November, in the Unesco representative list.

The bolero, a love story in 32 bars, was born in Cuba, but arrived in Mexico 100 years ago. It is a genre that is performed and enjoyed with soloists, trios, orchestras of all kinds or mariachi. It is accompanied by piano, percussions and woodwinds, although the guitar is of great importance, over the traditional requinto, proponents argue.

Olivera said that it is a popular practice that is listened in the family context, in parties, serenades, bohemias or peñas; also in concert halls, restaurants, bars, parks and squares.

The taste for listening to and performing it is transmitted from generation to generation, from parents and grandparents to children and grandchildren, thanks to daily practice, oral tradition and imitation. The content of its songs alludes to daily life, to love. It is a reflection of the affective imaginary, he added.

He considered that the bolero "is a heritage that unites us and has made us create together. It contains values intrinsic to the human being. It is a genre that awakens emotions. It encloses what we are. With or without Unesco, we will continue to practice it, he insisted.

But if it is declared intangible heritage, it would strengthen the practice of people in self-management processes.

We want it to be a dignifying cultural element that allows us to see ourselves in a mirror, Olvera affirmed.

La Jornada explained that in March 2022, and hand in hand with Cuba, the development of the dossier began, whose evaluation process has already begun with a 10-minute video, in which Mexican and Cuban singers are seen, which the Cuban and Mexican team sent to France to request the candidacy.

Olvera added that complementary information was sent to strengthen the dossier and constant communication has been maintained with Cuba to carry out joint activities.

He explained that the safeguarding plan is based on complying with Unesco's call, which calls for the preparation of a dossier, which consists, on the one hand, of filling out a form that focuses on the cultural practice, on the manifestation that the country wishes to register, in addition to a 10-minute video and photographs.