The Silbo Gomero whistling language takes center stage in this virtual exhibition, a recreation of the original display inaugurated on November 29, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Casa Bencomo in San Sebastián de La Gomera to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Silbo Gomero's declaration as a World Heritage Site. This graphic exhibition was also featured in 2023, its 15th anniversary, as part of the Lustral Festivals celebrations in the Port of San Sebastián.
The original exhibition is a journey through the history of this language in the context of its anniversary. Organized by the Heritage Department of the Island Council of La Gomera, the Silbo Gomero Chair, and the CajaCanarias Foundation, the exhibition promotes initiatives to strengthen and disseminate the characteristics of the whistling language, as well as to recover its documentary and visual legacy.
The virtual exhibition recovers and recreates this historical and documentary project, designed to offer a testament to the community and visitors to the island of La Gomera, highlighting the value of the whistling language as a cultural phenomenon. Among the oldest historical references is a document from 1687. Furthermore, the exhibition reflects the frequent allusions and references in the media during the early 20th century regarding the presence of this language on the island of La Gomera, presenting testimonies from whistlers, accompanied by the documentary thread of reports published at the time.
With this recreation, the ULL Institutional Chair of Silbo Gomero wants to share, once again, this documentary and visual legacy and make it open and permanently available, to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Declaration of Silbo Gomero as a World Heritage Site.
