José Farrujia to Present New Book on Canary Islands’ Ancestral Guanche Heritage
José Farrujia will present his new book, Guanches: Relatos de nuestro mundo ancestral, which blends archaeological research with storytelling to explore the resilience of the Canary Islands' indigenous culture, on April 23rd at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The Canary Islands' history is being brought to life in a new way with the release of Guanches: Relatos de nuestro mundo ancestral (Guanches: Tales of Our Ancestral World) by José Farrujia. The book will be officially presented on April 23rd at 7:30 p.m. at the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, coinciding with International Book Day. The event will include a discussion between the author and journalist Verónica Galán, insights from University of La Laguna professor Jesús Sebastián Díaz Armas, and a musical performance by Lajalada, who has created a piece inspired by the book.
Published by LeCanarien, the book stands out by moving beyond traditional historical fiction. Farrujia, an experienced researcher, uses a hybrid style that blends storytelling with archaeological and ethnohistorical facts. This approach helps readers understand the pre-Hispanic settlers not as distant figures, but as a complex culture that survived the impact of colonization through oral traditions, social customs, and place names.
The book serves as a thoughtful exploration of heritage. Rather than romanticizing the past, Farrujia highlights the resilience of a culture that, while disrupted by conquest, continued to influence island society. By bridging the gap between scientific research and creative writing, the work offers a fresh perspective on how the islands' original inhabitants lived, interacted with nature, and viewed the spiritual world.
The presentation is free to the public until the venue reaches capacity, offering a great opportunity to learn more about the lasting indigenous footprint in the Canary Islands today.