Lost in thought I wonder what it means to dedicate a public space to a singer. Plaza de Chabuca Granda is such a place. It is a public square tucked away in Madrid’s Hortaleza district. This plaza honors the Peruvian singer Chabuca Granda. The square was inaugurated on November 1, 1994. It marked a tribute to her musical legacy.
The day after its opening Spain’s Peruvian Embassy held a musical tribute. It took place in the Auditorio Nacional. MarÍa Dolores Pradera, Nati Mistral, and Betty Missiego attended. These famous singers celebrated Chabuca Granda’s life.
But there is another story interwoven within this plaza. In October 2016, Hortaleza approved a monument. This monument honored victims of the Franco dictatorship from old Hortaleza. The proposal passed with votes from Ahora Madrid and PSOE. The Partido Popular voted against it. Ciudadanos abstained. The monument is a monolith. It was unveiled on February 10, 2019.
So who was Chabuca Granda? MarÍa Isabel Granda y Larco was born in Peru in 1920. She became known as Chabuca Granda. She was a singer-songwriter, a record producer, and a screenwriter. Chabuca wrote many canciones de mÚsica criolla y afroperuana. She also penned poems, theater scripts and film scripts. Her songs like “La flor de la canela” gained international fame.
Chabuca’s musical journey spanned three decades. Her early work evoked old Lima. Her later songs reflected social issues. Finally, she embraced Afro-Peruvian influences. She collaborated with famous Peruvian musicians. These included Óscar Avilés and Lucho González. She also toured Ibero-America. She spent time in Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Madrid.
Many artists were inspired by Chabuca. These included Susana Baca and Juan Diego Flórez. Her songs have been covered by international stars. MarÍa Dolores Pradera and Julio Iglesias sang her songs. In 2017, her music became Peru’s Cultural Heritage. In 2019, the Peruvian government gave her the highest national honor. It was called the Order El Sol del PerÚ.
Chabuca Granda died in 1983. She left behind over 400 songs. Only 150 were recorded. Her death resonated throughout Latin America. The Secretary General of the OAS sent condolences.
After her death, many places were named after her. In 1994, Madrid named this plaza after Chabuca Granda. Buenos Aires has an “Alameda Chabuca”. Santiago de Chile also has a plaza. Lima has the Pasaje Chabuca Granda. There is also a monument near the Puente de los Suspiros.
In closing, Plaza de Chabuca Granda is more than a space. It is a reminder of music, memory, and resilience. It connects Spain and Peru through art. This place is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman.