With more than three decades linked to Franco-Macorian carnival, Victor Gray He turned his experience into the basis of a project that today is a reference within the municipality’s cultural festivities: Los Faraones, a group that emerged in 2017 and officially debuted on the streets in 2018, marking a constant and ascending presence since then.
Gray explained that the creation of the group did not initially respond to a structured plan, but to the impulse of a friend whom he introduced to the carnival years ago and who, after the dissolution of his old group, motivated him to start a new stage.
The first organizational meeting was held in Campo Fernández sectorwhere Gray resided with his compadre Edwin Javier at that time. However, he clarified that the group was not born as a group exclusive to that sector, but from its beginnings it was made up of friends from different parts of the city.
For Greyhis 30 years of participation in the carnival directly influenced the vision of Pharaohs, mainly in the organizational discipline and the constant search for quality. He acknowledged that the first obstacles were economic in nature, due to the high cost of participating with high standards.
When referring to the place that Pharaones occupies today, Gray maintained that the group has become a reference and what he defined as a “city brand” within the San Francisco de Macorís carnival. He pointed out that, throughout its history, the group has maintained a level of presentation that has allowed it to consolidate an identity of consistency and quality, backed by the support of the public.
He also indicated that the main legacy of Pharaohs has been to encourage other carnival fans to raise their proposals, contributing to a progressive change in the dynamics of the local carnival and attracting a new generation of participants.
Youth and culture as a central axis
One of the aspects that Gray highlighted most emphatically was the integration of young people into the project. He explained that Pharaohs has served as a space for cultural training through fun, in a context where, according to his appreciation, part of the youth is disconnected from traditions.
The essence of the group, he stated, lies in the people who make it up: young people committed to the organization, coordination and internal dynamics of the group. For the founder, more than the costumes, the true value of Pharaohs lies in the sense of belonging and commitment of its members.
Regarding the contribution to the identity of the carnival, Gray recognized that historically San Francisco de Macorís adopted styles from other provinces, which limited the development of a completely own tradition. However, he indicated that Faraones has begun a process of incorporating local elements, such as cocoa and solenodon, integrated into its visual proposal as initial symbols of an identity under construction.
He stressed that culture cannot be imposed, but rather develops organically, which is why he considers that the current work represents an attempt to strengthen distinctive features of the Franco-Macorian carnival.
Currently, Faraones brings together more than a hundred direct members and is part of an ecosystem of around 18 carnival groups. Its caves, located in the center of the city – with main access through El Carmen Street, corner of Restauración – have become concentration points that receive, according to its founder’s estimates, more than a thousand visitors per Sunday during the season.
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date: 2026-02-14 20:47:00
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