Yes, I know, I am a minnow and I haven't introduced myself to all of you steemers. But I am on it, don't worry :) I am just learning my way around this network and reflecting about the things that I could post about, my grain of sand to Steemit.
I am Chilean and third-generation Croatian descendant. My great-grandparents were Croatian, they met in the north of Chile and got married. My great-grandfather was born in Ložišća and my great-grandmother in Nerežišća, both towns are located in the island of Brač; most of the Croatian who emigrate to Latin America in the beginning of the 20th century came from Brač. Croatian diaspora in Chile is one of the biggest worldwide.
My father never cared much about "being Croatian". Since he didn't have a close relationship with his father or his grandfather, and having painful childhood memories due to his parents fighting all the time which cause a big family break-up, he just shun his memories of his father, grandparents, family members and friends from the community singing Croatian songs happily, where my father, my uncle Dinko, and my aunts Dinka (originality runs in the family) and Catalina would join in and sing along; and, of course, this would include a big feast, with roasted lamb, lots of wine and pastries prepared by my talented grandmother Fresia, who was a Domestic Economy teacher.
Baština and Domovina
On 2009, a friend and collegue of my father, who is Croatian descendant too, invited him to an event in which his band played. This band was Naša Zemlja (our land), they played Croatian folkloric music and were composed by a chord group, singers and dancers. When my dad heard their music, the same tunes he hadn't heard since his childhood, tears rolled down his face. It was a very profund experience for him, and since he has always loved music and plays many instruments, he was invited to be part of the band. He learned to play the brač, a kind of tamburica.
Since then, besides being part of Baština (which means heritage; I don't know the story on the name change), my dad participates in some activities associated with the Croatian community, especially those organized by Domovina, a Chilean-Croatian culture corporation.
These and more pictures you can find on Domovina's facebook page, you can follow or like if you want to :).
2015 Croatian Folklore Event in Montevideo, Uruguay.
October 17th, 2015.
Parque Inés de Suárez photoshoot, Providencia, Santiago.
May 7th, 2017
4° Encuentro de folklore croata en América Latina
On October 1st, 2016, Baština was invited to participate in the 4th Meeting of Croatian Folklore in Latin America, which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in Teatro del Globo.
Besides Baština, four other Croatian music bands participated: Hrvatski Dom from Montevideo; and from Buenos Aires, Proljece (spring), the associated band of the Buenos Aires Croatian Youth; male choir Klapa BA; and female choir Valovi (waves).
This year's version of the event will be held in Santiago.
If you want to see more of Baština's act, you can check this playlist on Youtube.
Doviđenja :)