Picture a champion. That’s El Gran Menelik. This legendary bull lives on in the hearts of Arequipa. He’s more than a memory. He is a symbol of strength. He is a benefactor of the community.
Today, we stand here to honor El Gran Menelik. His story echoes through Arequipa’s streets. His legacy connects with the soul of this city.
Let me tell you about Menelik. He wasn’t just any bull. He was born in Socabaya in 1940. His mother was a champion milk cow. His father was a young bull who jumped the fence. This chance encounter created a legend.
As a young bull, Menelik lived in Santa Rita de Siguas. There he learned to fight with mountain bulls. They attacked him constantly. This is where Menelik developed his unique fighting style.
Menelik learned to strike behind the ear. He impaled opponents with his horns. This skill led him to victory. He became a champion on April 9 1944 in Sabandía. He defeated Smeling. Smeling was a muscular bull weighing over 600 kilos.
Jesús Lazo of Paucarpata bought Menelik. Under Lazo’s care, Menelik remained undefeated. He reigned as champion from 1944 to 1951.
Menelik’s name has an interesting origin. His breeders named him after a circus lion. The lion had a reddish mane. It reminded them of the bull’s coat. They did not know about the Ethiopian emperor. Still, they called him Menelik.
Menelik’s fights weren’t just sport. They helped the community. The money earned built schools and roads. Locals knew their money would help Arequipa. Menelik’s fights were for the greater good.
Historian Juan Guillermo Carpio Muñoz explained Menelik’s technique. He would provoke a sprain in his opponent. Then he would gore the bull’s neck. Menelik would lift his opponent and throw him. The injured bull would flee.
In 2018, Arequipa almost lost its bullfights. Animal rights activists wanted them banned. Arequipa fought back. The city declared bullfights a historical heritage in 2016. They are part of the region’s traditions.
Jesús Lazo witnessed Menelik’s glory. He also saw his death. Decades later, Lazo created a museum. It preserves Menelik’s history.
Menelik was a fighting machine. He weighed around 1200 kilos. More than that, Menelik helped Arequipa grow. His victories contributed to public works.
Today, a bullfighting field in Socabaya bears his name. It is his birthplace. There, Menelik continues to fight the passage of time.
So, as you walk through Arequipa. Remember El Gran Menelik. He was more than a bull. He was a symbol of Arequipa’s spirit. He was a benefactor. He was a legend.