Passengers and tourists who arrived at Jorge Chavez International Airport early Tuesday were welcomed with various Peruvian dances as part of the celebrations marking
Creole Music Day —an occasion that pays homage to a musical genre that is typical of the Peruvian coast and that reached its maximum splendor at the beginning of the last century.
"As every October 31, we organized this celebration so that all passengers arriving and leaving the country at Jorge Chavez Airport can enjoy this day, which celebrates Peruvian culture," said Luis Farias, spokesperson for
Lima Airport Partners (LAP).
Creole music results from a fusion of Spanish, indigenous, and African rhythms, as well as melodic influences from the Peruvian capital, Lima.
According to Farias, Creole Music Day-related activities will be held in different areas of the air terminal throughout the day.
The first one took place at the airport's arrivals hall, and other dances will be performed at the boarding area "so that international travelers can enjoy a bit from our music."
During the activity, many people awaiting the arrival of their relatives brought themselves to join marinera and festejo dancers.
Moreover, a guitar and cajon-based ensemble livened up the atmosphere as travelers recorded the performance while transiting through the airport.
Creole Music Day
On October 18, 1944, Peru's then-President Manuel Prado Ugarteche decreed —through a supreme resolution— that Creole Music Day would be celebrated every year, on October 31.
The regulation was introduced at the request of the Social Music Center "Carlos A. Saco," among other Creole Music lovers and promoters.
The resolution states that "popular art contributes to strengthening nationalist consciousness, so its manifestations should be encouraged."
In the first celebration of Creole Music Day, the tributes began at 6 a.m. with the raising of the Peruvian flag at musical centers across the capital city Lima and the neighboring port city of Callao.
After that, a mass was celebrated at the Church of El Carmen in Lima's neighborhood of Barrios Altos, which paid tribute to the authors, songwriters, and performers of this musical genre, who made it another emblem of Peruvian national pride.
(END) KGR/RRC/RMB
Published: 10/31/2023