Tenor Javier Camarena, from Veracruz, opened the 37th edition of the International Book Fair on Anthropology and History (FILAH) on August 13 at the National Museum of Anthropology, accompanied by the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra, according to El Universal. A nearly full courtyard welcomed the singer, who is celebrating 22 years in the profession.
The fair, running through August 23, brings together 350 free activities: 150 editorial presentations, 37 workshops, 35 artistic presentations, 22 roundtable discussions, and an anthropological film festival, according to data from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) published by La Jornada. Additionally, 85 publishing houses will set up 95 stands at the venue. France and Veracruz are participating as the guest country and guest state of honor, in a year marking the 200th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and France, noted INAH Director General Omar Vázquez Herrera. The jarocho ensemble Tlen Huicani also performed at the inauguration, and the fair includes four temporary exhibitions, among them the loan of the Codex Azcatitlan.
Camarena, a native of Xalapa, performed under the direction of Maestro Martín Ledel and dedicated part of the program to music from Veracruz. "Only Veracruz is beautiful, some say; I think all of Mexico is," said Camarena before performing Perfume de Gardenias. Throughout the evening, guitars, piano, and trumpets joined the songs to showcase the cultural diversity of Veracruz, the singer noted. The tenor recalled that the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra will celebrate its 97th anniversary and that he is marking 22 years in the profession since his debut at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 2004. The fair will also pay tribute to historian María del Consuelo Maquívar and French researcher Odile Hoffmann.
In the days ahead, FILAH maintains a packed agenda: this Friday, archaeologist Sara Ladrón de Guevara will speak about the archaeological heritage of Veracruz, and the book Sucesos Culturales 1988-2024 will be presented. INAH expects to surpass the 183,000 visitors recorded in last year's edition before the fair closes on August 23.
This article was written with artificial intelligence assistance based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.