TV producer Juan Carlos Zorrilla has presented an interesting documental that mix up musical production and testimony. After his call, we went to visit Petrona.

               

Petrona Martinez’s soul, laughter and hair are bright white. That identifies a woman with colorful voice and strong passion for the “Bullerengue”. The Bullerengue is a traditional music folklore from some places amongst Bolivar and Cordoba. It was made for expecting woman to sing, as they couldn’t go to formal balls.

 

Petrona Martinez lives from sand. In Malagana, a small coast village where she lives, people depend on gathering sand. When the river dries, people from Malagana pick up the sand and sell it. To go down to the river bend is a feast. To go back it is not.

 

In addition to this rough work, Petrona has a magnificent voice for the Bullerengues. She is both composer and singer.  She want her music to travel around the world. That’s why she is already well known in France and in Europe.

 

She made her performances in Colón and Camarín del Carmen theaters, both in Bogotá.

 

Last September, Colombian TV transmitted the first part from Juan Carlos Zorrilla’s documental.

 

As Juan Carlos Zorrilla said, Petrona is the last Bullerengue singer in Malagana, and one of the last survivor singer in that region and in Colombia.  Her music, apart from being heard in Colombia, has widespread through Lp’s and personal presentations. Thanks to “Le Bullerengue”, under the brand Ocora (Radio Francia Internacional), we could hear from her outside Colombia.