Scientists – Writers, Poets and Intellectuals – Businessmen

Musicians, Composers and Singers

Scientists

Salomón Hakim Dow (1929–2011) – Neurosurgeon and inventor.
This eminent scientist received his doctorate in medicine from the National University of Colombia. He continued his studies at Harvard University. He specialized in neurosurgery at the Lahey Clinic and in neurology and neuropathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, both in Boston.
In Colombia, he was the Director of the Neurosurgery Service Department of the Central Military Hospital and Director of the Research Department at the same hospital, as well as working as a neurosurgeon in several other hospitals. In addition, he was a professor of medical physics, neurology, neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at the best universities in Bogota and a lecturer at academies of medicine in London and Paris and at medical centres and medical conferences in Europe , North and South America and the Middle East.
Dr Hakim made very valuable contributions to the field of neurology, such as his description of the hydrocephalus syndrome with normal pressure, called the Hakim Syndrome. He was the inventor of a fixed pressure valve worldwide known as the Hakim Valve, which has a catheter and a valve that allows or blocks the passage of cerebrospinal fluid. This valve is used in the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus.
He also designed, with his son, the biomedical engineer Carlos Hakim, a variable pressure valve.
This Colombian scientist had more than seventy articles published in different international medical journals and he holds 28 patents on some of his inventions.
He received numerous honours and awards such as the National Prize of Scientific Merit from the Colombian Association for the Advancement of Science. (ACAC).
Dr.Salomón Hakim was born in Barranquilla.

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Writers, Poets and Intellectuals
(Arranged by date of birth)

Álvaro Cepeda Samudio (1923-1972) – Novelist, short-story writer and journalist.
This outstanding journalist and writer began his career by covering sports events for El Nacional newspaper. He has written columns for El Heraldo of Barranquilla newspaper and was the editor of El Caribe. He has written several short stories and had his book The Large House translated into a number of languages.
Cepeda was a member of the “Grupo de Barranquilla”, a famous gathering of intellectuals. He was born in Barranquilla.

José Félix Fuenmayor (1885-1966) – Writer, politician, poet and journalist.
Director of El Diario Liberal. He founded the so-called "Grupo de Barranquilla" (Group of Barranquilla).
His works are summarized in four books: Muse of the Tropic, Cosme, A Sad Adventure of Fourteen Wise Men and Death on the Street, a short-story collection of the Caribbean region of Colombia. This outstanding writer is renowned for his innovative style. He was born in Barranquilla.

Amira Arrieta de la Rosa (1900-1974) – Poet, journalist, playwright.
This famous writer and poetess was awarded the Cross of Boyacá and the Gold Medal of Barranquilla.
She has authored many books including Marsolaire and Other Pages , The Moon with a Parasol (an unpublished poetry book). She penned the lyrics of the Barranquilla Anthem. Amira was born in Barranquilla.

Alfonso Fuenmayor (1915-1994) – Journalist and politician.
He was the Director of Diario del Caribe and editorialist of El Heraldo. He wrote chronicles about the so-called "Group of Barranquilla". He was later honoured with the Simón Bolívar Award.
As a politician, he served as a congressman and later was appointed to the United Nations General Assembly as Colombian delegate. He hailed from Barranquilla.

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(Cont.) Writers, Poets and Intellectuals

Germán Vargas Cantillo (1919-1991) – Journalist and writer.
Vargas Cantillo was one of the most outstanding intellectuals in Colombia.
His newspaper columns Un D ía M ás and Ventana al Mar were extremely popular throughout the country. Cantillo was born in Barranquilla.

Meira Delmar (Olga Chams Eljach) – Poet.
Meira Delmar is an outstanding writer from the literary movement, Piedra y Cielo, which had its beginnings in 1940. Her published books include Secret Island , Dawn of Obscurity, Truth of the Dream, Place of Love, and Guest Without Shadow, among others.
The author has been awarded many prizes and much recognition. She received the degree Doctor of Letters Honoris Causa conferred by the University of Atlantico .
Her name was honoured with the creation of the " Meira Delmar National Prize of Poetry " established in 2008. She was born in Barranquilla in 1922.

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Businessmen

Julio Mario Santo Domingo (1924–2011)
A very powerful businessman in Colombia, he was the owner of the Bavaria Group until 2005 and shareholder in a number of businesses, magazines, Caracol television and Caracol radio.
In 2004, he received the Order of Boyacá conferred by the National Government as recognition of his accomplishments and his constant aid to the development of the country and the Colombian people. Santo Domingo was a Barranquillero born in Panama.

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Musicians, Composers and Singers


Pacho Galán -Francisco Galán Blanco- (1906-1988) – Musician and composer.
He was known as "The King of Merecumbé" in the '50s and '60s. This talented composer was the creator and interpreter of many popular songs, some of them incorporating new rhythms, such as merecumbé, chiquichá, tiqui and mece-mece. He won numerous prizes. He also directed his own orchestra. He was born in Soledad.

Rafael Campos Miranda – Composer.
Campos is as well-known guitarist, journalist, composer and a strong supporter of Colombian folk music. He has received numerous awards in Colombia. He was born in Soledad.

Esther Forero Celis – Popular music singer.
This renowned artist has promoted Colombian music throughout the world. She was awarded the 1998 Emeritus Prize for her musical achievements. The Congress of Colombia granted her the "Order Policarpa Salavarrieta". She was born in Barranquilla in 1919.

Mario Gareña (1932-2021) – Composer and interpreter of popular music.
He artistically composed Te dejo la ciudad sin mí and many other beautiful ballads and bambucos. Gareña was the First Prize winner at the First New York Song Festival in 1974. He was born in Barranquilla in 1932.

Shakira (Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) – Pop music composer and singer.
She is currently one of the most important pop music figures in the world. For this, she has received numerous international prizes. Her awards include the best song of the year 2006 "Hips Don't Lie" granted by MTV Latino and more notably, received five top prizes during the 2006 Latin Grammy Awards. In 2011 she received the award Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation in recognition of her contributions to music and her social work in countries around the world. In January 2012 she was awarded the Knight of Arts and Letter by French Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand in Cannes.
She received an award for the best contemporary vocal pop album during the Latin Grammy Awards 2017.
In 2018 Shakira received The Grammy Award for 'best pop album' with El Dorado.
She has a very personal style. In her concerts she mixes ballads, rock and pop music. Shakira was born in Barranquilla in 1977.

Andrés Cabas – Composer and singer.
His Caribbean-rock compositions (a mixture of rock with Caribbean rhythms) are a trademark of this musician,
He was nominated at the Latin Grammies in 2002. His latest music album is titled "Puro Cabas". He was born in Barranquilla in 1977