La Laguna’s 'Biblioteca Resonante' Returns to Blend Traditional Verse with Urban Rap

The second edition of Biblioteca Resonante returns on October 30, aiming to bring culture out of the library and into the heart of the community. Organized by the La Laguna Municipal Library and supported by the local Department of Culture, the event transforms the city into a vibrant meeting place where traditional Canarian oral history meets modern urban culture.

Taking place in Plaza Hermano Ramón on Viana Street, the program centers on the art of improvisation as a bridge between the past and the present. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with students from the Abubukaka school, who will teach attendees about the décima—a traditional form of improvised verse. This will be followed at 6:30 p.m. by the Batallita de polkas, a fun challenge designed to test participants' wit and quick thinking.

The highlight of the day is a unique artistic collaboration: an improvisation duel featuring traditional repentistas (poets) Anamarys Gil and Tatazirga García alongside rappers Reina Omega and Cristina Mahelo. This performance aims to show that, despite their different styles, both poets and rappers share a common mastery of rhyme and spontaneous creativity. The event will conclude with a showcase of regional rap featuring performances by Jela, Ibra, Safiro, and Ayo Lion, with DJ Jim B on the decks.

This initiative reflects a broader movement among Spanish libraries to redefine their role in modern society. By moving activities into public spaces, the La Laguna Municipal Library is celebrating Library Day while strengthening community ties. By blending the archipelago’s folk heritage with contemporary urban music, the library hopes to engage a wider audience and ensure that the art of rhymed storytelling continues to thrive as a tool for public expression.