7th Meeting of Knowledge kicked off with “Dominican merengue and its styles”

Published at: 11/03/2026 11:02 AM

The 7th Meeting of Knowledge, Sounds and Flavors began this Tuesday, March 10, with the discussion “Dominican merengue and its styles”, as part of the first chapter of the cycle dedicated to Caribbean rhythms.

The activity that took place in the Viva Venezuela room at the headquarters of the Ministry for Culture in Caracas, included the participation of the musician and anthropologist Juan Moreno, who spoke about the evolution of merengue from its origins in the Dominican Republic to its expansion in the Caribbean and its reception in Venezuela.

He also highlighted the legacy of figures such as Billo Frómeta, Johnny Ventura and Wilfrido Vargas, as well as the role of groups that helped to popularize this genre in the region.

Moreno thanked the invitation and highlighted the importance of the meeting to spread the history and transformations of Caribbean rhythms. “Thanks to the influx of people interested in these issues, it allowed us to have a pleasant dialogue, where we talked about all that historical process of this kind in the Caribbean,” he said.

In addition, he invited the public to participate in the next days of the cycle, which will run until April and will address musical genres from countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Venezuela.

During the discussion, the Venezuelan public's receptivity to Caribbean sounds and the validity of merengue in popular taste were also highlighted. At the same time, the participants agreed that this rhythm is still present in celebrations and spaces for social encounter.

The program is part of a five-chapter cycle that explores musical and cultural connections between Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba, with weekly sessions scheduled from March 10 to April 16.

MINCULTURA/Mazo News Team