Orlando Tenorio - Ecuadorian Literature

Orlando Tenorio Cuero (Esmeraldas, May 22, 1945) is an Afro-Ecuadorian poet and writer. Tenorio’s poetry explores a variety of topics, providing deep observations on social consciousness, struggle, and the human condition. His notable books include “Desde atrás de la vida” [From Behind Life], “El Alfabeto de las golondrinas” [The Swallows’ Alphabet], and “Epistlas para el hombre y el mar” [Epistles to Man and the Sea]. Tenorio also served as president of the Esmeraldas chapter of the House of Ecuadorian Culture (Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana), displaying his dedication to fostering arts and culture in his region.

Family

Orlando Tenorio Cuero was born on May 22, 1945, in the Rosa Zárate parish, Quinindé Canton, in the province of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. He was raised in a family of two siblings, being the second child. His father, Etiel Tenorio, was a farmer who died a few months after Orlando was born, while his mother, Céfora Cuero Bermúdez, was a native of San Lorenzo. During his upbringing, his mother worked as a Secretary in the Tenencia Política, which necessitated the family to relocate to different areas within the province. He is married to the writer Fanny Merchán Angulo with whom he had 4 children.

Timeline

In 1971, published his first poetry collection titled “Desde atrás de la vida.”
Co-authored the long-playing record “Abrazo en negro del caracol y del cununo” with poetry in 1972.
Received a Mention for Literary Merit from the Municipality.
Elected President of the Esmeraldas chapter of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana (House of Ecuadorian Culture) in 1976.
Directed the cultural newspaper “Tierra Verde” published by the Esmeraldas chapter of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana.
Awarded a Mención al Mérito Literario (Mention for Literary Merit) by the Municipalidad.
Elected Vice Rector and later Rector of a local college in 1978.
Served as one of the main members of the Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional (National Executive Council) of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana between 1978 and 1979.
Worked as the Manager of the Círculo de Lectores (Readers’ Circle) offices in Esmeraldas from 1979 to 1980.
Published the short story “La alegría en casa de pobre dura poco” in 1984.
Served as a correspondent for the national magazine “Candela” by Julio Ayala Serra.
Released the book “Testimonio” in 1985 as a tribute to his deceased friend, the musician and composer Tácito Ortíz Urriola.
Published another short story titled “Una buena historia para contarla” in 1986.
Held the position of Director of Education in Esmeraldas province during the presidency of Dr. Rodrigo Borja in 1988.
Recognized for his contributions as a spokesperson for the Afro-Ecuadorian community during the national gathering of Black Communities in Guayaquil in 1995.
Appointed as a professor of Language, Legal Logic, and Semiotics at the Technical University in 1996.
Approved his lyrics for the official anthem of the Muisne Canton in 1999.
Invited to participate in the Intercultural Bilingual Encounter of Black and Indigenous Peoples known as “El ritual de la palabra” in 2001.
Published the essay “Tributo a Adalberto Ortíz Quiñónez y la poesía negra en el Ecuador” in 2017, as a tribute to Adalberto Ortíz Quiñónez and the Black poetry in Ecuador.
In 2018, received the “Juan Garcia” award from the Organizing Commission of the Afro-Ecuadorian Civil Society of the Decade. Other poets awarded that night included: Antonio Preciado, Lenin Arroyo Baltán, and Julio Micolta Cuero.

Poem

POEMA A MI HIJO

César Orlando,
pequeño gigante de la tierra,
columna vertebral que me crece desde adentro,
prueba de fuego que me graduó
de hombre,
música sonora que me levanta en vilo
la existencia.

Yo no podría decirte
que esta latitud ya amaneció,
pero podría contarte que hay gente que confunde,
que dos más dos son cuatro
y que a los peces alguien los cambió
de sitio porque le dio la gana,
que hay niños que deambulan por las calles
sin pan y sin cuadernos.

César Orlando
pequeño gigante de la tierra,
grito que se confunde en mis latidos,
almíbar en mi desesperado canto,
te esperábamos en la hora pronobis
de este siglo
o en el aguaje de ternura
que fluye en el frágil aletear
de las gaviotas,
eres un navegante más que arribas
a este puerto
y contigo emerge una nueva bandera
entre los brazos.

Works

Poetry:

Desde atrás de la vida (1971)
El Alfabeto de las golondrinas (1975)
Epístolas para el hombre y el mar (1975, expanded edition in 1982)
Rumbo al pueblo (1979, co-authored with the group Tremedal)
Otra vez ella, el mar y los recuerdos (2003)

Short Stories:

La alegría en casa de pobre dura poco (1984)
Una buena historia para contarla (1986)

Essays:

Tributo a Adalberto Ortíz Quiñónez y la poesía negra en el Ecuador (2017)