Molina de Aragón is located at the heart of the biggest European demographic desert. Re-named as ‘Serranía Celtibérica’, this desert unites rural territories from different Spanish provinces, such as Saragossa, Teruel, Cuenca, Soria or Guadalajara. Having an area double that of Belgium, this desert hosts only 487,417 inhabitants at a density of 7.72 hab/km2. Moreover, this area has the largest ageing index and the lowest birth rate of the European Union, with a population density lower than Lapland.
However, despite the statistics and the catastrophical headlines of Spanish newspapers, there are villages still alive, where people have decided to speak out, so they will not be forgotten, and to stress the importance of rural areas in maintaining culture, traditions and of course beautiful landscapes.
For this reason, entrepreneurial women from Molina de Aragón, taking part in La Artesa project, boosted by CEPAIM Foundation to empower rural women, have decided to make a cover version of a very famous rumba (Spanish musical style), changing the lyrics, to let people know that they are not dead, and to invite people to live in the country. The authors of this great initiative say: “in the countryside there are ideas, projects, enthusiasm, happiness and people; what we need are facilities, positive actions to cope with the challenges and achieve what we want: living in the village with employment and dignity”. You can watch the video with the song and read the translation for subtitles below.
Remember that people in the ‘Serrania Celtiberica’ are waiting for you with open arms 🙂
Rumba Rural – Translation for subtitles
Molina county is becoming empty
So we gotta shake it back to life
We’re creative, united and active
In the Alto Tajo National Park, hidden wonders await.
And we women aren’t dead, no, no way! (x3)
We’re just coming back to life, oh la la la la la!
And we women aren’t dead, no, no way! (x3)
We all keep walking on
Every day we create local products
Honey, beer and crafts, to make our day
If you are what you eat, don’t eat all that shit
Earth’s own food is much healthier
Come and live in the country, yeah yeah
Come and live in the country, right now
Come and live in the country, yeah yeah
The moment is HERE and Now, oh la la la la la!
Come and live in the country, right now
Come and live in the country, yeah yeah
Come and live in the country, right now
Awesome, awesome, awesome!
If you dare to begin, draw, laugh, sing, dance
Play in nature, connect with your soul!
We may be small villages, but our history is long
And so with our deeds we preserve our memory.
And we women aren’t dead, no, no way! (x3)
We’re just coming back to life, oh la la la la la!
And we women aren’t dead, no, no way! (x3)
We’ll keep on planning
We’re just a sample of ideas and intentions
Moving through the forests, breathing in emotions
If the trees could vote, a new day would dawn
Your honours, you must know there is no countryside without country folk.
We women are alive, looking for another way (x2)
Don’t cut off our roots, no no
Let’s look after our roots, yeah yeah
Oh, let’s water our roots, yeah yeah
Get some trees in your life, oh la la la la la!
Let’s look after our roots, yeah yeah
Oh, let’s water our roots, yeah yeah
Don’t cut off our roots, no no
Get some birds in your life.
We women are alive, looking for another way…
Lyrics translated by
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