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Juan Boria | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1905-02-17)February 17, 1905 |
| Died | May 29, 1995(1995-05-29) (aged 90) |
| Pen name | Negro Verse Pharaoh |
| Occupation | Teacher, carpenter |
| Nationality | Afro-Puerto Rican |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Subject | Negroid Poems |
Juan Boria (February 17, 1905 – May 29, 1995) also known as theNegro Verse Pharaoh, was aPuerto Rican poet known for hisAfro-Caribbean poetry.[1]
Juan Boria Romero was born on February 17, 1906, inDorado, Puerto Rico to Juan Boria Nevárez, a sugar factory engineer, and Anselma Romero Sempri, a housewife. He was of predominant African ancestry and of partial Italian ancestry through his mother. He took his elementary studies in Dorado. After that, he followed studies in the nearby town ofToa Baja. During weekends, he worked as amason andcarpenter to pay for his studies. He finished his studies atCentral High School inSanturce in 1923.[2]
At this time, his family moved to the town ofCataño and he started studies in theUniversity of Puerto Rico inRío Piedras. He received hisbachelor's degree as a teacher ofindustrial arts,drawing, andcarpentry. After several years working in several places, he started working as a teacher in 1937 at a school inSan Germán. From there, he was transferred to another school inCanóvanas.
In 1941, Juan Boria married Emérita Rodríguez with whom he had a daughter named: Zayda. From his first marriage, he already had a daughter named: Cruz Amanda.
In 1938, during a show at the school in Canóvanas, he heard a colleague — Pablito Rivera — recite theNegro poem "La negra curandera." He liked it so much that he asked him for a copy to learn and recite at his friends meetings. After some time, his friends prompted him to participate in a program at theWKAQ radio station. The poet Fortunato Vizcarrondo, considered the most important Negro poet in the island at the time, heard him and visited him. Vizcarrondo then offered him other of his poems for him to recite at the program.
In 1941, he participated in a show atLoíza, where he met the most important personality in Puerto Rican show-business,Ramón Rivero (known as "Diplo"), who was so impressed with Boria's performance that he made Boria part of histroupe calledLa Farándula Bohemia, traveling the island and performing as a poet and as an actor. In 1944, Boria once more joined the famous troupe and accompaniedRamón Rivero (Diplo) to thePanama Canal to entertain Puerto Rican soldiers stationed there.
In 1950, he traveled toHavana, Cuba under the recommendation of "Diplo" andLuis Palés Matos. He planned to stay there for 15 days but was so sought after that he ended up staying two months. He followed with travels to theDominican Republic,Colombia,Venezuela, Spain, and Portugal, as well as New York, where he headlined at theTeatro Puerto Rico, and other cities in the United States. Afterward, he alternated his artistic activities with his job as a teacher inRío Piedras.
In 1954, Boria debuted in television on the showTribuna del Arte fromTelemundo. He also performed inLa Taberna India with "Diplo." He followed with his debut in film in 1964 in theMexican/Puerto Rican filmMientras Puerto Rico duerme, directed by Julián Soler. He also appeared in severalshort films produced by the Division of Community Education.
From 1965 he traveled several cultural centers, schools, and public squares in Puerto Rico reciting at events sponsored by the Puerto Rican Culture Institute. He also participated at the Cultural Olympics in 1979.
In October, 1980, the 7th Festival ofBomba yPlena celebrated in his hometown of Dorado was dedicated to him. Also, the showNuestra Noche that same year was held in his honor. The show was celebrated in theRoberto Clemente Coliseum and featured singers likeWilkins,Haciendo Punto en Otro Son, and others.
In 1983, the mayor of Dorado, Alfonso López Chaar, acquired the Juana de Arco Theater at the entrance of the town and renamed it as Juan Boria Theater. On November 1, 1984, Boria himself presented his first show at the theater.
Boria retired from teaching in 1974. Afterward, he started his own shop inCupey.
Boria died May 29, 1995, inRío Piedras, Puerto Rico.
Although he identified with the works of Vizcarrondo, Palés Matos andNicolás Guillén, his repertoire included poems from:
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