Maná's Dismantling of the American Border Wall

By Samuel Aguiar Iñiguez

Oakland Photo Gallery

(Oakland, CA 9/28/07)- Maná made its way into the Oracle Arena with their perennial hit “Dejame Entrar.” As the white curtain showcasing a horde of immigrants climbing over a brick border fence- and the audience yelling louder as more climbed over successfully- Maná’s opening song to their two night opening performance in Oakland, CA started with a statement about immigrants in the United States.

“Somos unidos! Somos Mexicanos! Somos Latinos y Hispanos! Somos todos la misma gente!” echoed Maritza, an undergrad at Mills College. Her friends all cheered together as the white curtain fell to reveal Maná on stage in their combative attire- Fher in his red general coat, and Alex in his white muscle shirt with red tie ready to attack his drumset.

The late arriving sell out crowd who impatiently danced and sang along to each song all felt proud of their heritage as Fher asked how the audience was doing after their first three song set of “Dejame Entrar,” “Oye Mi Amor,” and “Labios Compartidos.”

“Como estamos anoche aqui en Oakland, California,“ asked the lead singer Fher. “Ya los extrañabamos y queriamos volver aqui con ustedes.” The screaming response from the audience affirmed that Maná’s presence in Oakland was long overdue. The delegation of Mexican flags waving in the audience and the orange glow in the dark sticks all frantically waved as Fher continued his welcome speech, “Aqui todos somos Americanos.” Again, the crowd roared, understanding that anyone living in the Americas-North, Central, and South are all Americans. Maná’s message of crumbling the wall that keeps people separated- as seen on the curtain when immigrants climbed over a brick fence- questioned the notion of why fences and separation amongst people are necessary.

“Maná’s understanding of socio-political issues and inclusive rights for all people make them a significant role model as musicians who will always try to unite cultures and people across the globe, as they have in Mexico, the United States, Germany, and Argentina.” The UC Berkeley professor who came to his third Maná show and who refused to name himself also stated, “Maná’s music is symbolic of a unified world. Everyone who comes to see Maná also comes to share themselves with the rest of the audience. Everyone laughs, sings, and cries together here. We are comfortable with each other and have momentarily rediscovered our humanity here. We all come here to break barriers and to love one another’s differences. Love for humanity is the biggest hammer against any wall.”

As Fher concluded his welcome speech, the crowd roared as “Tu Eres Mi Religion” began, all of us Americanos at the concert again realized just as the curtain fell to reveal Maná so did the Berlin Wall fall in Germany and in years to come, our border fence between Mexico and the United States will be seen as superficial as if “pretending” is only an image to be quickly shattered by endless choirs lead by our four-member band from Guadalajara, Mexico.

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