Colombia’s violent image has changed, the Andean nation’s first lady announced Wednesday night at the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C.
First Lady Maria Clemencia Rodriguez gave an opening speech at the inauguration of the Folklife Festival, which this year celebrates the diversity of Colombian culture, among other themes.
“What we want to show not only to Americans, but to the entire world, is what Colombia really is, that we are 46 million people: our culture, our diversity, and the quality of our people,” the first lady said.
Rodriguez insisted that the world’s negative image of Colombia “is already offset.”
“Most of us (Colombians) are good people, most of us are commited to our country, most of us want our country to show who we really are. There are only a few that do harm,” Rodriguez said.
In April, Colombia was invited to the important U.S. culture festival as this year’s guest of honor by the Smithsonian Institution.