Francisco el Hombre

Francisco el Hombre is a legendary figure, said to have originated the musical genre of Vallenato in Colombia. His story is very unclear and has been told by word of mouth from generation to generation.

The Story

His full name is Francisco Antonio Moscote. Francisco El Hombre is rumored to have gone around town to town in Colombia spreading news through the art of song. Not only did he sing the news, but he did it to the rhythm of an accordion that he always played whilst singing. This is how the genre of Vallenato in Colombia came to be. The exact era of his appearances is not known but it is rumored to have started around the late 1870s and early 1880s.

Another Myth

There is also a myth in Colombia where he was involved in a musical contest with Satan "El Diablo" and beat him with the rhythm of accordion and his voice. This is how he received the nickname "El Hombre" (The Man), which is how most Colombians know him - Francisco El Hombre. This myth also shows Colombia's strong Christian roots that have been integrated into everyday culture.