Guillermo Ayoví Erazo (November 10, 1930 - September 10, 2022) better known as Papá Roncón was an
Afro-Ecuadorian
Afro-Ecuadorians or Afroecuatorianos (Spanish), are Ecuadorians of predominantly Sub-Saharan African descent.
History and background
Most Afro-Ecuadorians are the descendants of enslaved Africans who were transported by Spanish slavers to Ecuad ...
musician, singer, and marimba player.
Life
Papá Roncón was born in Borbón,
Esmeraldas,
Ecuador on November 10, 1930. He learned to play the
marimba at an early age with the
Chachi people Chachi people (also Cayapas) are an ethnic group who live in the rainforest area of northwestern Esmeraldas on the northern coast of Ecuador. They live by the Cayapas River in the Centro El Encanto, a section of the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Re ...
. He began to make himself known in the 1970s, first in his village, and then at national and international levels, with tours in the United States, Venezuela, Colombia and Japan. In 2001 he received the
Premio Eugenio Espejo The ''Premio Nacional Eugenio Espejo'' ("Eugenio Espejo National Award") is the national prize of the nation of Ecuador. Decrees 677 and 699 (of August 1975 and September 1997, respectively) established the prize, which is conferred by the President ...
for his contribution to the Ecuadorian culture through the practice and teaching of the marimba and traditional dances. He also directed several films, including documentaries.
In July 2007, he and
Petita Palma
Petita Palma Piñeiros (born 4 March 1927) is an Ecuador, Ecuadorian singer who is regarded as a national treasure. Marimba music and traditions from the Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas are recognised by the UN as part of the Intangible Cultural ...
were invited to
Ecuador's National Assembly where a plenary session was conducted in honour of the two of them.
Legacy
He was the founder of the school of traditional culture 'La Catanga', through which he taught dozens of children and youth to play and dance marimba in the province of
Esmeraldas.
Personal life
He was married to his wife Grimalda for over 50 years and they had ten children, 14 grandchildren, and about 8 great-grandchildren.
Death
Papa Roncón died on 30 September 2022 at the age of 91 in Borbón, Esmeraldas.
death in 2022
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References
External links
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1930 births
2022 deaths
Marimbists
20th-century Ecuadorian male singers
People from Esmeraldas, Ecuador
African diaspora in Ecuador
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