Cumaná ha sido cuna de fabricantes y artesanos de excelente calidad con trayectoria nacional e internacional por muchos años, tal es el caso de la familia Figueroa, que por más de un siglo ha contribuido con la música folclorica de Cumaná, a través de la fabricación artesanal de instrumentos de cuerdas como el Cuatro, mandolina, bandola, entre otros.

Cumaná has been the cradle of manufacturers and artisans of excellent quality with national and international trajectory for many years, such is the case of the Figueroa family, which for more than a century has contributed to the folk music of Cumaná, through the handmade manufacture of string instruments such as the Cuatro, mandolin, bandola, among others.

These artisans provide instruments to musicians and amateurs that perform our traditional music, having an absolute importance because they need instruments to carry out the different typical rhythms belonging to the culture of the state of Sucre. It is clear that artisans and musicians complement and depend on each other.

This family tradition has been of great relevance in Cumaná since it has transcended from generation to generation, also formed in the art to many people who followed in the footsteps of the Figueroa as a way of life for the sustenance of his family and for the strengthening of craftsmanship in our region today.

In this sense, I as a member of the Figueroa family decided to RESCUE THE TRADITION that my ancestors managed to form and that almost died a few years ago for lack of initiative and commitment of the members of our family, as they were forming in other areas of work and did not give the importance of preserving the tradition and year after year fewer and fewer people were doing such a beautiful work of making instruments.

This concern intensified in 2014 when I began to market the Cuatros of my uncle Asdrubal Figueroa that since childhood I saw working in his workshop called "Fabrica de Instrumentos Miramar", in order to highlight the tradition of the Figueroa family as instrument makers.

Months later I became interested in the manufacture and thanks to my uncle and the master luthier Rafael Arcia I began my first steps in the world of lutherie and with the desire to follow the family tradition to continue contributing to the folklore of my hometown, as did my grandparents, uncles and cousins.

Time has passed and I am still making instruments of very good quality, having the unconditional support and advice of the master luthier Crispín Becerra (unfortunately he passed away a year and some months ago), feeling proud to belong to the 4th generation of luthiers of the Figueroa Dynasty.

Thank you very much for reading this post and for appreciating in advance our work that has contributed and meant a lot to keep alive our tradition in Cumana and in the world.

In the next post I will tell you more about this beautiful art and the positive impact on the community, contributing a grain of sand for the strengthening of popular and Venezuelan culture.