CONFERENCES ON THE LEGACY OF JOSÉ DE ANCHIETA

INTRODUCTION

The figure of the Jesuit from La Laguna, José de Anchieta (1534–1597)—canonized by the Church, co-founder of the city of São Paulo, and author of an extensive literary body of work—remains, even today, a little-known or poorly understood figure in his hometown, despite efforts to disseminate his life and work. Symposia, publications, and cultural activities have attempted to recover his legacy, yet there continues to be a gap between the true dimension of his historical figure and how he is perceived locally.

Part of the issue may lie in the fact that more emphasis has been placed on Anchieta’s literary or devotional side, without sufficiently highlighting the impact he had in 16th-century Brazil, or presenting his life model as an ethical reference relevant to the present. In Brazil, Anchieta profoundly changed his view of Indigenous peoples. He went from seeing them as a threat or risk to recognizing their culture, engaging with it, understanding it, and helping to disseminate it. His opposition to slavery and his humanistic approach to “the other” marked a radical departure from the dominant colonial mindset.

This shift in perspective may have roots in his childhood in La Laguna, where he lived alongside another marginalized and colonized reality: the Guanche people. Although he does not make this explicit in his writings, he was the only missionary of his time who came from an island setting where an Indigenous culture had been subjugated. This experience may have made him more sensitive and predisposed to empathize with other oppressed cultures.

In this sense, Anchieta 2025 is envisioned as a cultural initiative that updates his message and brings it into dialogue with contemporary values: inclusion, respect for diversity, sustainability, intercultural dialogue, and the rejection of racism and slavery. The goal is not to repeat what has already been said, but to connect Anchieta’s Brazil with today’s La Laguna, using dynamic, participatory, and accessible formats far removed from the traditional academic lecture.

The program will include public dialogues, film forums, an audiovisual exhibition, concerts, and dramatized guided tours—all held at Casa de Anchieta, a symbolic and emotional space rich in meaning.

GENERAL PROGRAMME

TUESDAY, JUNE 3
7:00 PM · Opening Session – Padre Anchieta Cultural Chair, University of La Laguna
José de Anchieta vs. Jean de Bolés: A Historical Hoax

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
7:00 PM · Second Session – Padre Anchieta Cultural Chair, University of La Laguna
José de Anchieta and the “Gift of Tongues”: Communicating at the Ends of the Earth

THURSDAY, JUNE 5
5:00 PM · FATHER ANCHIETA IN THE VISUAL ARTS
7:00 PM · DIALOGUE: THE PARADISIACAL NATURE OF ANCHIETA – PLANTS, FRUITS, GARDENS AND HIS CONNECTION TO THE CANARY ISLANDS
8:30 PM · CAMERATA LACUNENSIS: TRIBUTE CONCERT TO JOSÉ DE ANCHIETA

FRIDAY, JUNE 6
5:00 PM · DIALOGUE: ANCHIETA HERE AND THERE (O ANDARILHO)
6:30 PM · DIALOGUE: ANCHIETA’S LIBERATING MESSAGE AND SLAVERY IN LA LAGUNA
7:30 PM · LAUNCH OF ANCHIÉTEA MAGAZINE · CCPA ULL
8:00 PM · CINEFORUM: SCREENING OF THE FILM “HANS STADEN” · LUIS ALBERTO PEREIRA, 1999

SATURDAY, JUNE 7
7:00 PM · O SHOW DE ANCHIETA
A musical journey with Isabel González, Rebeca Mora, and José Félix Izquierdo

SUNDAY, JUNE 8
5:00 PM · 6:00 PM · 7:00 PM · 8:00 PM
THEATRALISED GUIDED TOURS OF CASA ANCHIETA

TUESDAY, JUNE 10
7:00 PM · ANCHIETA’S SCULPTURE: CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE