A small, but valuable part of the stories that many took to the holy books and to the cinema, has been staged for almost 150 years in Baranoa, Atlantic, with the “Loa de los Reyes Magos”, a theatrical manifestation of the culture of this municipality that today is kept alive on stage.
The personification of the moment when the Magi visit the Child Jesus and the persecution of King Herod is the story told by the Loa, who after a virtual edition, returns to the presence in January 2022 with a renewed cast.
Roberto Celedon, mayor of Baranoa and who leads this theatrical tradition, spoke in an interview with THE NEW CENTURY about the importance of this living art for the country, the steps that are being taken to preserve this cultural heritage and how the next edition of the “Loa de los Reyes Magos” will take place.
THE NEW CENTURY: What does the “Loa de los Reyes Magos” consist of?
ROBERTO CELEDÓN: It is a theatrical, popular and religious representation, I could say that it is one of the oldest in Colombia because it has more than 140 years of tradition.. It was brought by a Spanish priest who arrived in the municipality of Baranoa, Atlántico, and from there, uninterruptedly, not even in times of pandemic, the staging has been stopped, which It is the theatrical representation of the adoration of the Magi to the newborn Baby Jesus. This for the Baranoeros constitutes a cultural heritage, where every year, spontaneous actors look for a way to be part of the cast of the Loa and it becomes an honor to appear in this popular theatrical performance of our municipality.
TO US: After a completely virtual edition What will the staging be like for 2022?
RC: We are going to work on stage again, we are going to do it in person, with all the biosafety measures. We will return to this tradition where Herod persecutes the Child Jesus and where the Magi are guided by a star to search for the manger in which the newborn is found.
This year we have the support of Fontur. And we are promoting the Loa, so that everyone comes to Baranoa to observe this staging on January 8. There will be 50 artists on stage and together with them a series of people who will be in charge of the scenography, the music and the costumes, among other things.
La Loa contributes to the economic reactivation because direct and indirect jobs are generated in the assembly and also with the presence we will have many visitors in hotels in Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta, who will come to see the Loa.
You may be interested in: Unmissable Colombian destinations to celebrate Christmas
TO US: How is the assembly process?
RC: We make a call from the hand of people who have already had experience in this staging. They choose the new talents who will perform at the Loa. By 2022 we will have a new King Herod, among other innovations in the cast.
Throughout November and December the respective preparation is made. And so we hope to give the best possible show in the Manuel Patrocinio Algarín Square, where we expect about three thousand people to attend, as in 2020.
Also through the regional channel Telecaribe and virtual platforms we will allow those who are far away to observe this work. We have the experience of the last Loa that was made, in which more than five thousand people were connected on the networks and through streaming.
TO US: What does this art represent for the culture of Baranoenses?
RC: This piece has a very eloquent language, in prose, and it is an honor, for example, to be a Herod in the Loa or to be a native dancer; the girls strive to be dancers in Herod’s palace. It all becomes like a challenge and it is an honor for the Baranoans to be part of the cast.
TO US: How do you see the interest of the new generations to preserve customs like this?
RC: I am very excited because even in the new processes of adults in the Loa there are many young people like Emanuel de la Cruz or Alberto Sarmiento, who are young people of 25 and 30 years old who are very careful to preserve this tradition.
In fact, We are working so that it is recognized as Oral and Intangible Heritage of the Nation. We have already presented the project to Congress, it was already approved in the first debate. This encourages us to continue to preserve this tradition.
But also also We have the infantile Loa, with which the seedbeds of the next actors are generated and this guarantees that in the new generations we will still have a Loa for many years plus. We continue working to conserve this cultural heritage and we are expanding so that all of Colombia knows what this art is.
–
