DACC Library: Hispanic and Latino Heritage: Colombia

Colombia - flag and map

Columbia flag

photo by Jose Aranda

image from the CIA World Factbook - Columbia

Colombia - overview

Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2021 - Colombia
Compiled from publications that were available as of February 2020 from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Brittanica Academic (2019) - Columbia
Covers the land, people, economy. government and social conditions, cultural life, and history.
Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (2017) - Colombia
Each country entry breaks the country’s information into 49 numbered headings that allow users to compare countries in a variety of ways: 1. Location, Size and Extent; 2. Topography; 3. Climate; 4. Flora and Fauna; 5. Environment; 6. Population; 7. Migration; 8. Ethnic Groups; 9. Languages; 10. Religions; 11. Transportation; 12. History; 13. Government; 14. Political Parties; 15. Local Government; 16. Judicial System; 17. Armed Forces; 18. International Cooperation; 19. Economy; 20. Income; 21. Labor; 22. Agriculture; 23. Animal Husbandry; 24. Fishing; 25. Forestry; 26. Mining; 27. Energy and Power; 28. Industry; 29. Science and Technology; 30. Domestic Trade; 31. Foreign Trade; 32. Balance of Payments; 33. Banking and Securities; 34. Insurance; 35. Public Finance; 36. Taxation; 37. Customs and Duties; 38. Foreign Investment; 39. Economic Development; 40. Social Development; 41. Health; 42. Housing; 43. Education; 44. Libraries and Museums; 45. Media; 46. Organizations; 47. Tourism, Travel and Recreation; 48. Famous Persons; and 49. Dependencies.

Famous Coumbians

image by Jose Lara / CC BY-SA

Gabriel García Márque, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982 and author of One Hundred Years of Solitude (available at DACC Library). information from Concise Encyclopedia of Latin American Literature

image by Shakira, CC-SA 4.0

"A child prodigy and a star throughout the Spanish-speaking world, the Colombian vocalist Shakira made a successful crossover to English-language pop with her 2001 album Laundry Service." from library database Biography in Context

image by Rufus46, CC-SA 3.0

James Rodríguez : "In 2014 Rodriguez was selected for the Colombian national team in the FIFA World Cup. He exploded out of the gates, scoring three goals in his team's first four games. In a knockout-round match against Uruguay, Rodriguez scored two goals as Colombia advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in history." He won the FIFA Golden Boot Award that year. from library database Biography in Context

Colombia - food

image by E4024 / CC BY-SA

Fried Empanadas

Recipe for Colombian Empanadas: Fried Empanadas With Beef and Potato Filling

image by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA

Recipe for Hearty Ajiaco: Colombian Chicken and Potato Stew

Esto es una empanada, hay empanadas de todo, pero normalmente son de comida salada, y se acompana con aji (mas o menos parecido al pico de gallo).

This is an empanada, there are all kinds of empanadas, but they are usually salty food, and it is accompanied with chili (more or less similar to pico de gallo).

image and information by Wendy Umbarita, DACC student

Esto es parte de la cena de navidad. En la foto podemos ver buñuelos (masa drita con queso), empanadas, natilla (postre muy tradicional en Diciembre), bocadillo (dulce de guayaba) con queso, arroz con leche, aguacate (que de por si son mas o menos 4 veces mas grande que los aguacates que encontramos en esta area)

This is part of the Christmas dinner. In the photo we can see buñuelos (dry dough with cheese), empanadas, custard (very traditional dessert in December), sandwich (guava sweet) with cheese, rice pudding, avocado (which in itself are more or less 4 times more bigger than the avocados we found in this area)

image and information by Wendy Umbarita, DACC student

Colombia - culture

Somos MUY bananeros y plataneros. En Colombia se come el platano en todas las formas habidas y por haber. Muhas personas que cuentan con el espacio en sus casas prefieren plantar su propio arbol de platano.

We are banana growers. In Colombia, bananas are eaten in all the forms that exist. Many people who have the space in their homes prefer to plant their own banana tree.

image and information by Wendy Umbarita, a DACC student

En Colombia somos muy bailadores de salsa. La ciudad mas reconocida por este genero es Santiago de Cali. En Diciembre hay una feria especial en la que se presentan varios grupos musicales y bailarines de solo salsa. Se llama "La feria de Cali".

In Colombia we are salsa dancers. The most recognized city for this genre is Santiago de Cali. In December there is a special fair in which various musical groups and solo salsa dancers perform. It's called "La Feria de Cali".

image and information by Wendy Umbarita, DACC student

Medellin es muy reconocida por sus decoraciones en la epoca de Diciembre. La alcaldia se encarga de decorar los parques, calles y rios que atraviesan la ciudad.

Medellin is well known for its decorations in December. The mayor's office is in charge of decorating the parks, streets and rivers that cross the city.

image and information by Wendy Umbarita, DACC student

El dia de las velitas se celebra el 7-8 de Diciembre. Hay personas que prenden las velitas el 7 de Diciembre en la noche y hay otras que las prenden en la madrugada del 8 de Diciembre. Se realiza esta celebracion en honor a la inmaculada concepcion. Las mayoria de las personas no se van a dormir hasta que las velas se derritan por completo.

The day of the candles is celebrated on December 7-8. There are people who light the candles on December 7 at night and there are others who light them at dawn on December 8. This celebration is held in honor of the immaculate conception. Most people do not go to sleep until the candles are completely melted.

image and information by Wendy Umbarita

image by Alex22Ortega / CC BY-SA

The Barranquilla Carnival is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Event.

from The Peace Corps welcomes you to Colombia: a Peace Corps publication for new volunteers

image by Michunicornn / CC BY-SA

Columbian basket weaver at market

Colombia - audio

Lyrics and music by Jairo Gonzalez:

Tradiciones: Latino Music from Smithsonian Folkways
Colombian Dance Music - see song #10: Fuego de Cumbia
Tradiciones: Latino Music from Smithsonian Folkways
from the Colombia's Caribbean region - see song #19: Mi poema

Colombia - streaming video

Gabo & Cinema - An Acclaimed Colombian Author and his Relationship to the Cinema
It is said that Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez never allowed for a film adaptation of his singular masterpiece One Hundred Years of Solitude to be produced. However, the prolific Colombian writer had strong ties to the movies. This film is a well documented contribution to the general study of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In the voice of his friends and accomplices, the documentary takes us beyond his literary figure and immerses us in his cinematic one. Official Selection at the Havana Film Festival.
Ciro and Me - Ciro y yo
Ciro Galindo was born on August 29, 1952, in Colombia. Wherever he went, war always found him. His children were recruited by the armies of war; his family was repeatedly displaced; and his wife Anita, an indigenous woman, died of sadness. Foreign to the system, but a victim of the system, Ciro has led a heroic anonymous struggle to live life on his own terms. From Pragda.
Dario (2018)
A short film - 16 minutes. Dario, a 17-year-old boy from Barranquilla, Colombia has a passion for dance. He loves his Carnival group but has to keep it a secret from his mother, who is afraid that he won't grow up to be a "real man". Instead, she forces him to spend the day working in his uncle's shop. Will he be able to dance in the Carnival parade?