Miscellaneous
Ranked as number 20 on the list of 100 top punchers of all time by US boxing magazine The Ring, Nicaraguan Alexis Argüello was a professional boxer turned politician, elected to the office of Mayor of Managua in November 2008. In his boxing career Argüello, also known as El Flaco Explosivo, claimed the world champion title three times, and was readily acknowledged as being one of the greatest boxers of his era. He had never lost any of his world titles in the boxing ring, but had relinquished them in favor of competing for higher weight class titles.
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Miscellaneous
With both critics and supporters, beauty pageants are held all around the world with young women competing on local and national levels, often with the hope of competing in international competitions such as Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International. The Miss Nicaragua beauty pageant was first held in 1955 with Rosa Argentina Lacayo being the first Nicaraguan beauty to receive the coveted crown and sash. Since then the competition has taken place almost on an annual basis, with each of Nicaragua's departments having the opportunity to send a representative to the national competition, traditionally held at the Rubén Darío National Theater in Managua. The winner of the Miss Nicaragua title has the honor of representing her country at the Miss Universe and/or Miss International contest.
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Miscellaneous
The town of Masaya in Nicaragua is well known for the superb handicrafts produced by the people living there, and it was in this culturally rich area of the country that talented Jazz pianist, Donald Vega, was born on July 23, 1974. It may have seemed that Vega had the odds stacked against him early in life as he was born with a severe cleft palate which, if not repaired, could have adversely affected his hearing. However, following a number of surgeries his palate was eventually repaired and his hearing saved, which he no doubt is grateful for – and so are his music-loving fans.
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Miscellaneous
The fact that Tony Melendez Rodriguez is a successful singer, guitar player, songwriter and composer might not be significant to many. But the fact that Melendez has achieved so much without arms is a feat that is respected and honored by all who know Tony Melendez, as well as those who hear his story. Due to his mother using Thalidomide during her pregnancy, Melendez’s arms did not develop, leaving him disabled. This, however, did not leave him bitter or without determination, as it did not take long for him to learn to play the guitar – using his feet.
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Miscellaneous
During a period of conflict between the United States and several Central American countries that came to be known as the Banana Wars, the US invaded and occupied Nicaragua in 1912 – although a number of other operations were carried out prior to this. The start of the Great Depression and the activities of the guerilla army led by Augusto Cesar Sandino were contributing factors to the withdrawal of US troops from Nicaragua in 1933.
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Miscellaneous
The majority of the most famous and respected poets from Nicaragua in the years leading up to 1970 were all men. But the literary world began to change as an elite group of women poets came on the scene, and some even achieved international fame and began to rank amongst the most acclaimed poets in Latin America. One of these exceptional women and poets is Yolanda Blanco. She has achieved more than most poets from Nicaragua, and has become one of the most revered poets in the world.
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Miscellaneous
The Garifuna people are a diverse mixture of cultures that descend from Arawak, West Africa and Carib, and generally reside in Central America. Communities of Garifuna are located in Nicaragua, as well as in Belize, Honduras and Guatemala. Their heritage of dance, language and music was recognized by UNESCO in 2001 as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in the countries of Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua. Corn Island, Nicaragua, was the venue for the first Garifuna Summit in 2005, and their culture, especially their music, is still alive in Nicaragua today.
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Miscellaneous
Located just one block south of the Ruben Dario Park in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, a humble nondescript building is home to an array of items that chronicle the life of a man who became the founder of Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) – a guerilla movement that rose up against the dictatorship of Anastacio Somoza – thereby changing the history of the country of his birth. Carlos Fonseca Amador was born in Matagalpa to Augustina Fonseca Úbeda on June 23, 1936 and went on to become a teacher and librarian as his line of work, although his real passion lay in politics and correcting the injustices he saw.
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