Benque Viejo del Carmen’s Marimba Los Hijos del West arrive in Mexico City for performances on Thursday and Friday

Benque Viejo del Carmen’s Marimba Los Hijos del West, Senior Ensemble, in Mexico City – Photo Credit: Benque of Culture/NICH (BHOC)

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Benque Viejo del Carmen’s Marimba Los Hijos del West, Senior Ensemble, arrived safely in Mexico City on Wednesday morning to perform at the 2024 International Anthropology and History Book Fair (FILAH) on Thursday and Friday, August 8 and 9. The Book Fair will be held at the Mexico National Anthropology Museum (Museo Nacional de Antropología).

The Benque Marimba Los Hijos del West and representatives from Quintana Roo are the invited guest performers at the FILAH.

According to Benque and San Ignacio & Santa Elena House of Culture/NICH (BHOC) Coordinator Nalleli Yacab, Los Hijos del West left Benque Viejo del Carmen at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, traveled across the border to Chetumal where they overnighted, and took a flight on Wednesday morning to Mexico City.

Yacab said the Belize Embassy in Mexico is coordinating the Marimba Hijos del West ‘Cielito Lindo Tour 2024’.

“We are so honored to have been granted this opportunity of a lifetime by the Embassy of Belize in Mexico City under Ambassador Oscar Arnold, who has been very kind and detailed in making this trip possible,” the BHOC said in a social media post on Monday. “We pour our heart into every soulful musical beat with great pride at the Foro Artistico for the #35 FILAH.”

Benque Viejo del Carmen’s Marimba Los Hijos del West, Senior Ensemble, in Mexico City – Photo Credit: Benque of Culture/NICH (BHOC)

According to Yacab, the members of the Benque Marimba Los Hijos del West, Senior Ensemble, are marimba players Emil Hernandez, Jonathan Tun, Zean Santos, Videl Yacab, and Aylin Ayala; bass guitarists Xavi Perez and Luis Angel Quiroz; drummer Leandro Pacheco; güiro player Ronald Toralla; and Musical Director Ian Yacab. Nalleli Yacab is the Lead Chaperone while Mrs. Nancy Santos is the Parent Chaperone.

The Benque House of Culture thanked Education Minister Francis Fonseca, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the National Institute of Culture and History for logistical support and kind considerations.

The Benque Marimba Los Hijos del West should complete their Cielito Lindo Tour 2024 on Sunday, August 11.

Yacab said the Benque Marimba Los Hijos del West is the Benque House of Culture’s leading project.