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@abreusoleidy · 09 Oct 2021
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Juan de Dios Martinez Icon of Afrozulianity

#venezuela

Born on March 16, 1945, in Bobures, Zulia state, Juan de Dios Martínez Suárez was born.
son of Pedro Martinez and Maria Isabel de Jesús Suarez.

She grew up under the care of her maternal grandmother, María del Carmen Suárez, who told her when she was nine years old: “Look son, you can read and write, put away everything that those old men tell you who come every afternoon to get the breads and sweets that I make.”.

Man of principles, highlighted as a father, in love with the Afrozulian customs they left in the transculturation of the state.

In his intellectual life he became a researcher with more than 70 publications and countless awards, including those of UNESCO. Juan de Dios Martínez's greatest contribution is and will be the relentless judgment and pride in defending the concepts of Afro Venezuelanity and Afro-Zulianity; passion only comparable to his devotion to Saint Benedict of Palermo, the Black Saint and Luz, whom he always accompanied in touches and studies.


He dedicated himself to teaching the universe of Chimbanguele. Among his most important works are “The Government of the Chimbángele”, “Presence of Africa in the South of Lake Maracaibo” and “Culture and Dependence in Latin America”.

He was named Musical Heritage of Zulia on August 23, 1993, and was awarded the Mention of Folklore Dance of the Conac Prize.


He dedicated himself to the dissemination of myths, legends and traditions of the peoples of the South of Lake Maracaibo and founded the Ajé Association, which is why he was considered the greatest exponent and scholar of Afro-Caribbean culture, always under the premise of the dissemination of the syncretic cult of Saint Benedict of Palermo and the African deity Ajé.

In honor of his memory, an annual award was instituted bearing his name, which recognizes those who dedicate themselves to research the Afro-Caribbean music genre. The date that recalls the birth of Juan de Dios Martínez is currently “Afrozulianity Day”.

Zulia, Mérida and Trujillo have been recorded in texts and recordings, although many of these works are unpublished, waiting for the successor to continue the legacy of this great man, Juan de Dios Martínez.

Without a doubt, the footprint of Juan de Dios sings and rhythm is made in the work carried out by his group “Ajé”, a name he took from the divinity Aje brought by the Africans, and which in this region of the South of the Lake became the divinity that protected them in rivers and mountains.

The “Ajé” group was born as a permanent workshop for research and extension of Afro-Zulian cadences in the region.
He died on October 2, 2005. For the commemoration of the birth of Juan de Dios Martínez, we celebrate Afrozulianity Day.


Years after his death, the Hospital Type I of the locality named Hospital I of Caja Seca changed his name in honor of this historical character. Now the Hospital is called Juan de Dios Martinez Caja Seca Hospital.

This famous man was an icon of the Afro-Zulianity of the South of the Lake. A charismatic person whom I met in the Mayor's Office of Sucre municipality, when I was a child in the town of bobures that is in the same municipality where I was born and lived most of my life. Juan de Dios was characterized by his help to the neighbor and his famous chimbangalera festivities. It is part of the history of Venezuela coming from a small town on the shores of Lake Maracaibo.



  • Comments (16)
gjohannagomez22
Good detail of the life of Juan de Dios
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Maria
wonderful publication, very interesting
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ELINA RICKURA
Who hasn't danced to his music and drum
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zulusys21
Excellent human being with a lot of knowledge of Venezuelan folklore
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ravena69
It was an excellent example of our culture. I lived near my house
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naf1971naf
in my time at university I had the opportunity to meet him, when he was part of the Zaguán de Luz group of the Secretariat of Culture, a knowledgeable, humble and simple man
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abreusoleidy
@naf1971naf this is how he was a very studious and humble person who achieved most of his dreams
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Juli.carmen
A faithful example of righteousness for every Venezuelan
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Leo 1
In any case, this is a good account of a personality known in your country and also gives a look at a piece of Venezuelan culture.
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abreusoleidy
@Leo 1 thank you if. And I managed to get to know even the house where he was raised by his grandmother
ReplyTranslated from Spanish Show original

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