Ecuador festival at Katara from today

By Joey Aguilar/Staff ReporterA five-day Ecuador Cultural Festival beginning today at Katara - the Cultural Village will feature a series of traditional music and dance shows presented by some 80 Ecuadorians.The event will also showcase a variety of authentic Ecuadorian food, handicrafts and other products at Building No. 3 and Esplanade. Ecuadorian Ambassador Kabalan Abisaab said at a press conference yesterday that the festival aimed at bringing “a piece of their rich and diverse culture to Qatar”. Describing their country as a multi-ethnic and great cultural nation, he said majority of the Ecuadorian population is a mixed ethnic ancestry and “thus Ecuador’s culture is a blend of indigenous people”.He stressed that the roots of Ecuador’s culture and arts, especially its music and food can be traced back centuries. “Ecuadorians have music for all events. It is rich in musical traditions dating back to the time of Spanish conquest and it has always attracted many people,” he said.The ambassador also pointed out that their artistes use unique musical instruments made of bamboo while some use violins, drums and jarangos which are played for different occasions. Soloists and some of their homegrown artistes will lead jam sessions and welcoming of guests and visitors at exactly 5am, an hour before the national parade dubbed as “Jacchigua”.It will be followed by an acrobat show at 6.30pm and a bamboo group known as “6 Piece Band” at 7pm. Some soloists will be performing live  with their violin, and flute at 7.30 and 7.45pm. Jam sessions will follow at 8.10pm before a carnival parade at 8.45pm.Visitors will have a chance to watch Martin Pene and his wife in an acrobat duo at 9.10pm in the same venue while “Ballet Jacchigua” starts at 9.25pm. Abisaab stressed that artists of a certain region in Ecuador are known for their generally colourful paintings depicting the festivals, needs and dreams of indigenous people.He noted that cultural expressions have fostered respect and understanding between individuals and groups with different identities, helping to either resolve or prevent conflicts. Besides traditional musical performances and art exhibitions, they will also hold programmes and games for children. They will also set up a “Birds Depiction Area” which will reflect the natural environment and wildlife in Ecuador. Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, director general of Katara, has expressed confidence that the festival will deepen Qatar-Ecuador cultural ties.  “The culture is one of the most important and most vital sectors that promote the bilateral relations between the countries and gathering peoples,” he said.Darwish Ahmed, director of Marketing and International Relations at Katara, said in a statement that the five-day event will give Katara visitors a chance to see “a picture of the cultural reality of Ecuador with all its details and a normal life through the presentation of works of art, music, food and entertainment.”