Gabán Tacateño received the Order of Liberators in posthumous homage

Published at: 08/12/2025 08:49 AM

In an emotional act of recognition of his career and cultural legacy, the teacher Enemecio Sánchez, known artistically as El Gabán Tacateño, received the highest distinction in the Republic: the Order of Liberators and Liberators, in posthumous homage.

This was announced by the Minister of Popular Power for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, who presented this award granted by the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, to his relatives, in honor of his invaluable contribution to Venezuelan music.

The remains of Enemecio Sánchez were veiled at the Cecodifemi funeral home in El Paraíso, Caracas, where his harp, maraca and boche companions paid final homage to the musical genre he masterfully cultivated: the Tuyero or Central Joropo, also called Mirandino and Aragüeño, Villegas wrote.

“In my life I had the honor of his friendship and now that he physically left, I have had the honor of presenting, posthumously, the highest award,” he said.

The physical departure of Gabán comes just days before an announcement that will fill the country with joy: the long-awaited declaration of the Venezuelan joropo as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Unesco's decision is expected to be made official between December 9 and 10.

For this reason, Villegas said that from “heaven will accompany us in the celebration of this cultural victory, which we will dedicate to his memory and legacy. Honor and Glory”.

Mazo News Team