The Orinoco Tragedy occurred 45 years ago

On August 15 , 1980, the well-known Orinoco Tragedy occurred where the members of the Madera Group and the group El Chichón of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) died, who had been invited by the National Council of Culture (CONAC) to tour the state of Amazonas, from August 9 to 18, 1980, to visit the indigenous peoples of Zamariapo, San José, Moriche and San Fernando de Atabapo.

He died in the Orinoco River after the sinking of the Esther falca, where they were moving just 15 minutes after setting sail for the first town.

The Madera Folkloric and Experimental Group was born in the Marín neighborhood, San Agustín parish, in 1977, with the purpose of making Afro-Venezuelan and Afro-Caribbean cultural manifestations visible, based on research on African heritage in Venezuelan society. Community experience, popular sentiment and contact with the neighborhood's sensitivity and its deficiencies led the group to define its ethical, moral and ideological conscience based on its beliefs and convictions, without this implying the establishment of alliances or militancy in political organizations.

The group comprised of Juan Ramón Castro, Felipe Rengifo, Jesús “Chu” Quintero, Farides Mijares, Ricardo Quintero, Héctor Romero, Carlos Daniel Palacios, Lesvy Hernández, Ángel Silvera, Luis Orta, Alfredo Sanoja, Marcelo Hernández, Ricardo Orta, Miriam Orta, Nelly Ramos, Alejandrina Ramos, Nilda Ramos and Tibisay Ramos; made his first presentation on November 18, 1977 at Casa Monagas and between this year and 1978 they performed in the Aula Magna of the UCV, in the Pedagogical Hall of Caracas, at the Municipal Theater of Caracas, at the University College of Los Teques, in the prison of El Junquito, in public squares and in different popular neighborhoods of the Venezuelan capital, as well as in regions of the interior of Venezuela, including Curiepe, Rio Chico, Sotillo, Ocumare del Tuy and La Guaira.

The only survivors of the tragedy were: Carlos Daniel Palacios, Marcela Hernández, Miriam Orta, Nelly Ramos, José Rivero and Faride Mijares who, in homage to their colleagues decided to continue with the group and in this way also accompany the Venezuelan people in their feelings and in their struggles.

Mazo News Team