On a day marked by the echoes of Mexican independence and the commercial fanfare of friendship and love, Colombia mourned the quiet departure of Carlos José Reyes. He was a man who, with a voice steeped in history and a heart alive with the soul of a nation, gave us a way to see ourselves. On this day, Reyes left behind a nation richer for the stories he told, but poorer for his absence.
The Man Who Told Colombia’s Story to the Common Folk
Carlos José Reyes was more than a historian; he was a beacon for those who sought to understand Colombia’s complex and often turbulent past. With a career that stretched across decades, Reyes wasn’t content to let history linger in the dusty archives of academia. He believed that “history must go where books cannot reach.” And so, with the fervor of a man on a mission, Reyes brought Colombia’s history to the masses through the medium of television.
His most iconic work, Revivamos Nuestra Historia (“Let’s Revive Our History”), aired from 1979 to 1988. The series broke barriers, blending academic rigor with the accessible language of everyday people. It wasn’t merely a recounting of Colombia’s past; it was a visceral experience, pulling the viewer into the struggles, victories, and betrayals that shaped the nation. Reyes’s vision was simple yet revolutionary: history should not remain a distant, cold subject for university halls and national holidays. Instead, it should live among the people—alive, palpable, and personal.
His landmark productions, such as Bolívar, El Hombre de las Dificultades (“Bolívar, the Man of Difficulties”), transcended television. It became a cultural phenomenon. Pedro Montoya, the actor who portrayed Simón Bolívar, found himself mistaken for the liberator himself. In a blend of myth and reality, Montoya attended political events and village parades, not as an actor, but as Bolívar reincarnated. The show wasn’t just history—it was living, breathing reality. As Reyes’s work captured hearts, he also rewrote the rules of storytelling for a country yearning to rediscover its identity.
A Legacy Beyond Television: The Heart of Colombian Theater
Reyes’s love for storytelling didn’t end with television. His passion for theater ran deep, and he was instrumental in the foundation of the Teatro Popular de Bogotá. Alongside renowned director Jorge Alí Triana, Reyes turned the theater into a crucible for the exploration of both local and universal truths. For him, theater was not only a stage—it was a mirror reflecting society’s deepest concerns, its yearnings, its flaws, and its triumphs.
Through plays and performances, Reyes used the theater as a space to interrogate the soul of Colombia. It was a place where historical figures and everyday citizens could coexist, where national heroes like Bolívar stood shoulder to shoulder with the forgotten campesino. His works bridged the past and the present, turning the stage into a meeting ground for communal reflection. It was here, under the bright lights and within the shared silence of an audience, that Colombia could confront itself and begin to heal.
A Scholar, a Cultural Custodian, and a National Treasure
Reyes’s contributions extended beyond the arts into academia. As the director of the Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia, and a member of both the National Academies of History and Language, Reyes was a tireless advocate for cultural preservation. He lectured, wrote, and acted, all with a singular purpose: to deepen our understanding of who we are as a people and as a nation.
His writings spanned the breadth of Colombian history, from the life of José María Córdova to the complexities of Rafael Núñez, and each work carried his unique touch—rigorous yet empathetic, factual yet profoundly human. Reyes had a gift for turning dry historical facts into living stories that resonated with everyone, from the university scholar to the campesino in the mountains. In every sentence, he wove a thread of the human condition, reminding us that history is, after all, the story of people.
Goodbye to the Wise Storyteller of Colombia
Carlos José Reyes was, in every sense, the wise man of Colombian culture. He was the one who “knew” and was always willing to share, the one who wove stories not just for entertainment but as a balm against the barbarity of forgetting. With his departure, we lose a man who taught us to look inward, to investigate ourselves as a nation, not with detached curiosity, but with profound introspection.
As we say goodbye, we are left with the echoes of his voice, guiding us to find the words that will carry our own stories forward. His life was a testament to the power of narrative, and in his absence, it becomes our task to ensure that the stories he brought to life continue to inspire and teach.
