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| The Águila Girls accompany Master Choperena and his wife at the tribute that Águila beer prepared to honor him at the Barranquilla Carnival. Photograph: Bavaria, S. A. |
During the celebrations of the 2010 Barranquilla Carnival, that finished on the 15th of February, Águila beer paid tribute to the master Wilson Choperena López, lyricist of 'La Pollera Colorá', the traditional cumbia (Colombian folk music) that always graces the carnival festivities. As ever, the Bavaria slogan, “sin igual y siempre igual” (“always the same and always the best”) rang true.
Nearly 250 people, including official Carnival participantsand journalists from the most important media outlets in the country, accepted the invitation from Águila beer to give thanks to the master Choperena for this symbol of Colombian folklore.
To the sounds and strains of the melody, played by more than 60 young members of the Banda Departamental de Baranoa (Baronoa State Band), the honoree arrived at the Gran Salón of the Hotel El Prado in Barranquilla, hand in hand with Carmen Elena, his permanent companion throughout his whole life.
Visibly moved by the expressions of public warmth, the master received a message from the 'Barranquillera' (Barranquilla resident) Shakira who sent a video that illustrated the life and work of the singer who, 50 years ago in Barrancabermeja, wrote the well known lyrics of this cumbia that has spread across national borders. This famous artist expressed her profound admiration for the invaluable contribution that the master has made to the culture of the country and the whole world.
Dressed in a stylized traditional “pollera colorá” dress, Giselle Lacouture, Carnival Queen 2010, joined the celebrations by interpreting a new version of this famous song that fills every Colombian with pride. She was joined by 60 pairs of dancers who danced the cumbia in the inimitable way that only people of “La Arenosa” can do during this period of the year. “Thank-you Águila for giving wings to our folklore”, was the phrase that the queen of the 'dios momo' (carnival king) parties used to emphatically finish her presentation to reiterate the brand's presence.
In order to support the culture and education of the region, the Bavaria Foundation (Fundación Bavaria), has assigned COP$25m to the Fundación Banda de Baranoa (Barona Band Foundation) to pay for the running of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wilson Choperena Music School. Through this donation 600 children will be trained in the arts to make sure that this proud musical legacy is preserved.
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Press Release
17th FEB 2010
With the 50th Anniversary of “La Pollera Colora”,
Aguila took over the Barranquilla Carnival
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