Water Culture: The Heart of a Marvelous Proclamation
Festival Kick‑off
The Fiestas in Honor of Our Lady of La Peña 2025 began on Thursday, 18 September, with an opening speech delivered by Majorero historian Inma de Armas, one of the most influential figures in Fuerteventura’s cultural and historical development.
“A very special gathering for everyone who lives on Fuerteventura. These are days when we share path, tradition and devotion, and when we feel, with greater strength, the pride of belonging to this island,” said Lola García, president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura.
Lola García also praised Inma de Armas as a researcher and author whose publications have enriched the present and planted the seed for a future that never forgets its roots.
Mayor Enrique Cerdeña of Betancuria highlighted the emotion and joy felt in La Vega de Río Palmas as pilgrims from across the island arrive at the sanctuary of the Virgin of La Peña. The festivities opened with a musical show produced by Folk Canarias.
The ceremony was attended by Culture Councilor Rayco León, government and opposition councilors of the Cabildo, mayors and municipal representatives, parliamentary deputies, as well as local residents, civil, military and ecclesiastical authorities.
Water as the Thread of Majorero History
Inma de Armas traced the island’s history with water as the central thread, showing how this vital resource has shaped Majorero life from prehistoric times to the modern era marked by the first desalination plant in 1970.
Key points from her presentation:
- Gavías – ancient water‑catching channels similar to those used by Berber communities, suggesting early aboriginal practices.
- Between 1406 and 1418, Normans coexisted with the native population, creating a “crucible of languages and cultures.” Berber‑derived terms such as Fayagua, Amanay and Tababaire were used to name various springs and locations across the island.
- With the arrival of the Castilians, grain export became the economic backbone. The landscape was reshaped by gavías, vegas, maretas, and wells equipped with norias (water wheels).
- Aljibes (cisterns) were built to endure prolonged droughts; notable examples include the aljibe of Chó Julia in Villaverde and the recently restored El Veneno and Redondo in the municipality of La Oliva.
- The distillery served as a domestic water‑purification system, while varistas—specialists who detected underground water sources by feeling the vibrations of a staff—played a crucial role during extended dry periods.
“Centuries of awareness and experience have taught us not to waste a single drop and to respect the culture of water as something intrinsically linked to our lives,” de Armas emphasized.
She concluded by congratulating Vega de Río Palmas, noting that the town “hosts year after year the festival that unites the whole island.”
About Inma de Armas
Inma de Armas is a Majorero historian who, since the 1980s, has been pivotal in cataloguing the Island Historical Archive and coordinating the Popular University of Fuerteventura, laying solid foundations for the preservation and dissemination of the island’s knowledge.
For more than two decades she led the Cabildo’s Culture Service, promoting essential projects such as the opening of the Miguel de Unamuno House Museum and numerous editorial and research initiatives. Her work consistently focuses on valuing collective memory and strengthening Majorero identity.