Diógenes Cuero Caicedo (1948–2019) was an Ecuadorian poet and cultural activist. He was a prominent black voice in contemporary Ecuadorian literature.[1]

He was born in San Francisco de Ónzole, a poor black community in the Eloy Alfaro Canton in the north of Esmeraldas province. He worked at the Esmeraldas Refinery for Petroecuador in a number of managerial roles. He was a leading light in the Esmeraldas Petrolero Sports Club. He taught at the Luis Vargas Torres Technical University, where he rose to become dean of the engineering faculty. [2]

For 20 years he hosted a radio program called "Raíces" on Radio Central Candela, where he spoke about the culture of his people. As a proponent of negritude, he helped to organize numerous black cultural events, for example, a series of marimba festivals in his region. In 1996, he was responsible for the creation of the world's biggest tapa'o. He matured late as a writer, only coming to it in the 1980s. He is known for books such as Tsunami, Mitología y Poesía and Las Huellas de la Carimba. His poetry made use of the artefact and symbols of his region: la guacharaca, la chautiza, la gualgura and la tunda.[3]

He died in 2019, leaving behind seven children.[4]

Works

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  • Jugando a las Relaciones Humanas
  • Petróleo, Realidad y Sindicalismo
  • Tsunami, Mitología y Poesía
  • CD. De poemas Tsunami.
  • Las Huellas de la Carimba
  • Me Quieren Quitar lo de Negro

References

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  1. ^ "La poesía de Esmeraldas está de luto, falleció el escritor y poeta Diógenes Cuero".
  2. ^ "La poesía de Esmeraldas está de luto, falleció el escritor y poeta Diógenes Cuero".
  3. ^ "Diógenes Cuero se define como defensor de la negritud". 28 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Todos los honores para Diógenes Cuero Caicedo - la Hora".