The ‘Marimbas’ painted by Efraín Andrade Viteri
The history of Afro Ecuadorians goes back to 1553, when a slave boat carrying their forefathers shipwrecked off the coast of Esmeraldas. These men and women came from Cape Verde, but their roots originated in Central Africa. After finding freedom in this remote land, they created a strong identity by preserving their native culture.
One important aspect of their culture was music. They brought with them the sounds of “Marimba”, the African “Mother of Music”.
The word “Marimba” comes from the Bantu languages of Central Africa where it means “the wood that sings”. It is said by some, to derive from a Zulu myth in which a Goddess made an instrument by hanging gourds underneath wooden bars. Her name was “Marimba”, the Wakambi “Goddess of Music”.
The Marimba is a musical instrument that consists of a set of wooden bars with resonators, and which descends from the African Xylophone. The characteristic repeating patterns of this instrument produce melodies and energetic rhythms that the people incorporated in their celebrations and religious ceremonies. It features call and response chanting along with the music.
An Ecuadorian marimba ensemble is composed of a bombo, drums, cununo and guasá. The Marimba dance served as the ultimate expression of freedom for the African people since their arrival in Esmeraldas. However, at the beginning of the 20th century, marimba dances were regulated and even prohibited, which greatly affected the culture of the Afro Ecuadorians. But in the middle of the 20th century, they began to resurrect their beloved marimba music, dances and traditions.
Perhaps the renaissance of the Marimba culture had something to do with the arrival of Efraín Andrade in Esmeraldas in 1951. His admiration for the people and culture that descended from Africa was demonstrated in the paintings he created and exhibited in the House of Fine Arts of Esmeraldas.
The artwork of Efraín Andrade made and impact on the culture of Esmeraldas, and brought back the resilient spirit of the people and their sense of pride.
From the depth of color, the detail, and the focus on form and movement, it is clear the marimba music penetrated the very depths of his soul and inspired his paintings.
The “Marimbas” paintings depict the instrument, the players and usually a few dancers. In the early 50’s Efraín Andrade created the first marimbas utilizing the “Pen and Ink” technique. After this, all the marimbas he painted were in “Oil on Canvas”
The “Marimba Paintings” are Efraín Andrade’s signature theme as a painter. While over the years he did many portraits, landscapes and still-lives, it is the Marimbas that he is most known for and that best represent the culture of the people of Esmeraldas.