During the National Porro Festival, held this weekend in the municipality of San Pelayo, Córdoba, Senator Ruby Chagüi announced that this typical rhythm of the Colombian Caribbean has been recognized by the House of Representatives as Cultural and Intangible Heritage of the Nation. 

"We are very proud to give the news, in the framework of the 45th edition of the Porro Festival, that our project that recognizes the Porro rhythm and the National Porro Festival of San Pelayo, as a manifestation of Cultural and Intangible Heritage of the Nation is a Law of the Republic", said Senator Chagüi during the presentation of the Festival .

The Cordoba legislator also stressed that with this recognition "the traditions associated with porro are recovered through the transmission and strengthening of knowledge, know-how and related practices".

This new step for Caribbean culture is of great importance due to the generation of strategies that can be generated through the National Government and the Local Government, in order to sustain the economy of this activity for its preservation. This allows not only to preserve the traditions but also to encourage tourism for the benefit of the people who are dedicated to this art.

Article 1° signed by the House of Representatives announces: "Recognize the Porro and the National Porro Festival of San Pelayo, in the department of Cordoba as Manifestation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Nation and apply for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture".

What is Porro? 

The porro is a musical rhythm of the Colombian Caribbean, traditional of the departments of Córdoba, Sucre and Bolívar. It has a lively, cheerful and festive rhythm, suitable for dancing in pairs. It is played in 2/2 time signature or, as it is popularly called in America, "compás partido". It is a popular party music that is generally played by bands known in Colombia as "papayeras", also known as "Bandas de Músicos".