Carmen Acevedo Vega


Carmen Acevedo Vega was an Ecuadorian poet, writer, and journalist.

Biography

Carmen Acevedo Vega was born in Guayaquil on July 16, 1913. Her father was José L. Acevedo Quiroz, a writer and poet from Quito. Her mother was Obdulia Vega Andrade, from Cuenca. Carmen Acevedo Vega was born in Guayaquil on July 16, 1913. Her father, José L. Acevedo Quiroz, was a writer and poet from Quito. Her mother, Obdulia Vega Andrade, was born in Cuenca. She lived her first years in a farm owned by his father in Naranjal. Years later, her family moved to Guayaquil, where she completed her elementary studies at the Colegio la Inmaculada in Guayaquil. She later had to drop from high school due to social prejudices of the time.
When she was six years old, Carmen Acevedo Vega was taken to "San Vicente" farmland, which belonged to her father. At that moment, nature had an impact on her and she got introduced to the peasant life. During this time, she acquired a peculiar habit: she would never cry. She developed this habit because her parents would tell her older siblings that men must not cry, if they do so, they would look like women. This comment made her wonder why only women had the right to cry. Therefore, she resolved to not cry over anything.
She first approached literature, as well as recitation and singing, because of a teacher of hers from Guayaquil. She was considered a quiet, anxious, shy girl at school and home. She focused most of her attention and time to her studies. She was the best of her class in gymnastics and olympics and got the highest grades. The theater world highly drew her attention; she was amused by theatrical performances, longing to be chosen for literary evenings. At home, she and her brother would imitate performers of the Comedian Children's Company that would showcase themselves at the Teatro Colón.
After she finished elementary school, she completed only two years of high school. Her father did not allow her to go to Vicente Rocafuerte School. Carmen had to stay at home, where she spent most of her time reading books. She then developed an interest in biographies, novels and classic literature. Her father helped motivate her to write her first poems, which would often talk about death and disappointment. She was also inspired by her father's friends, writers and musicians who would frequently visit their house.
In 1929, she published a few poems in the Guayaquil magazines "Ideal” and "Perú". When Telmo Vaca del Pozo heard of her writings, he went to Carmen and advised her that being a poet would be very hard, especially because she was a woman, she would face strong criticism. After listening to this, she decided to not publish any more of her poems, and instead dedicated herself to singing. Her father supported her and encouraged her to study music. Carlos Alberto González and Francisco Paredes Herrera became her private teachers. Her father also wanted Carmen to become an actress, but her mother strongly opposed the thought. Carmen would only sing at family evenings; and it was around this time that she learned to sew and embroider. She entered the Music Conservatory under the order of Maestro Pedro Pablo Traversari, and managed to study up to a second year of piano, reciting, and singing.
In 1935 she became part of a writing team for the newspaper “El Universo”. She resigned in 1938 in order to move to Cuenca where she worked for the newspaper “El Mercurio” instead. A year later she returned to Guayaquil, while continuing her work for the local newspaper in Cuenca. In 1945, she married Vicente Idrovo Valdivieso, whom she divorced in 1953. They had a son named Luis Galo Idrovo Acevedo.
The experiences she had in her youth are evoked in her verses. She is known for composing works on social themes and protest, through sensitive, rhythmic and lyrical verses.
She died in Guayaquil on April 28, 2006.

Memberships

Carmen Acevedo Vega was a member of many Ecuadorian institutions, including: