The Festivities in Honour of Our Lady of La Peña 2025 commenced today, Thursday 18th September, with the inaugural address delivered by Majorero historian Inma de Armas, a key figure in the cultural and historical development of Fuerteventura.
The Festivities of La Peña 2025 begin with a historical journey led by Inma de Armas.
Significance of the Festivities
The President of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, highlighted the importance of the Festivities in Honour of Our Lady of La Peña, stating, “This is a very special event for all of us living in Fuerteventura. These are days when we share our path, tradition, and devotion, and when we feel a stronger pride in being part of this Island.”
She also commended Inma de Armas “as a researcher and author of publications that have enriched our present and planted the seeds for our island to move towards the future without forgetting where we come from.”
Community Involvement
Enrique Cerdeña, the Mayor of Betancuria, expressed the emotion and joy experienced in La Vega de Río Palmas as they welcome all those who pilgrimage from various places on the Island to gather at the house of the patroness, the sanctuary of the Virgin of La Peña. The festivities begin with the inaugural address by a historian and notable cultural figure.
The event was attended by the Cultural Councillor, Rayco León, government and opposition councillors from the Cabildo, mayors and municipal representatives, parliamentary deputies, as well as local residents, civil, military, and ecclesiastical authorities.
Musical Opening
The inaugural address began with a musical performance by the production company Folk Canarias.
Historical Journey
Inma de Armas provided a journey through Majorero history, using water as a central theme, recalling how this resource and its utilisation have been crucial in the lives of the Majorero people throughout the centuries, from indigenous times to the modern era marked by the introduction of desalination with the first water treatment plant in 1970.
Inma de Armas highlighted water conservation systems such as the “gavias,” very similar to those used by Berber peoples, leading to different hypotheses about indigenous lifestyles.
Between 1406 and 1418, the Normans coexisted with the island’s natives and new Berbers, creating “a melting pot of languages and cultures” where terms derived from Berber words like Fayagua, Amanay, and Tababaire emerged to name various places and springs across the Island.
With the arrival of the Castilians, grain exportation became the economic foundation. At that time, the landscape began to be shaped by gavias, vegas, maretas, and wells equipped with waterwheels. She also referred to cisterns designed to endure long periods of drought, “like the cisterns of Chó Julia in Villaverde or the recently restored El Veneno and Redondo in the municipality of La Oliva.”
The historian also mentioned the use of stills for domestic purification, lengthy drought periods, and the role of “varistas,” who located water deposits or streams by sensing vibrations with a forked stick.
A series of historical developments, according to De Armas, have led to “centuries of awareness and experience to ensure not a drop is wasted, and to respect water culture as something intrinsically linked to our lives.” She concluded by congratulating La Vega de Río Palmas for being a community that hosts the festival that unites the entire island year after year.
About Inma de Armas
Inma de Armas is a Majorero historian who has played a key role in cataloguing the Insular Historical Archive and coordinating the Popular University of Fuerteventura since the 1980s, establishing solid foundations for the preservation and dissemination of knowledge on the island.
She was responsible for the Cultural Service of the Cabildo for over two decades, driving essential projects such as the opening of the Casa Museo Miguel de Unamuno, along with numerous editorial and research initiatives. Her work has always been connected to enhancing collective memory and strengthening Majorero identity.
The Festivities of La Peña 2025 begin with a historical journey led by Inma de Armas.
