Bogota, Jan 15. — In an atmosphere closer to a celebration than a wake, thousands of people gathered at the Movistar Arena in Bogota on Wednesday to pay tribute to Colombian popular music singer Yeison Jiménez, who died last Saturday in a plane crash in the center of the country. The buzz outside the capital's arena, where fans of the artist had arrived since Tuesday night, gradually moved indoors to the same venue where Jiménez solidified his career in July 2024 by selling out tickets for his '17/32 Invicto tour' in a matter of hours. Gradually, people filled every seat inside the Movistar Arena, whose central space was transformed into a stage for a solemn farewell. On the main stage, a large LED screen presided over the venue with Yeison Jiménez's name in white letters and a tribute message, accompanied by the years of his life (1991-2026). On the sides and in front of the stage, floral wreaths were arranged in rows, forming a silent frame surrounding the place where the coffins rested. In the front row, aligned facing the audience and the stage, were the coffins with Jiménez's photo and the other five people who died in the accident, covered in floral arrangements and guarded by family, close associates, and logistics staff. The lights, dim and focused, illuminated the scene with a respectful tone, while the audience in the stands sang the songs of the late artist in an atmosphere more euphoric than restrained, closer to a show than to reflection, in a venue accustomed to the noise of concerts that today resists giving in to the silence of funerals. "The fourth 'sold-out'" The solemn event began around 1:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. GMT) when a member of the artist's team appeared on stage and welcomed the attendees, making it clear that this was "the fourth 'sold-out' for Yeison Jimenez at the Movistar Arena." Next, Víctor Hugo Aristizábal, another member of Jiménez's inner circle, paid tribute to the singer as well as to Juan Manuel Rodríguez, Óscar Marín, Jefferson Osorio, Weisman Mora, and pilot Fernando Torres Rojas, who also died in the air disaster in Paipa, a municipality located in the department of Boyacá (center). The solemnity gave way to music, which began with the performance by artist Pipe Bueno, who sang 'Tengo ganas', written by Jiménez. Later, Jorge Andrés Alzate, known in the music scene as Alzate, and the duo formed by Jessi Uribe and Paola Jara took the stage. "Fly in peace" The most emotional moment of the evening occurred when Luz Mery Galeano, Jiménez's mother, went on stage with Taliana, the artist's eldest daughter. "Fly in peace, go to heaven. Here is your heroine," the woman said, sobbing and with a trembling voice, after a minute of stunning silence that took over the venue. Meanwhile, the artist's daughter thanked the attendees for their company and asked for a prayer to be sent up to heaven for her father. "Be very grateful for your parents," the young girl said. The evening continued with performances by Luisito Muñoz, Francy, Arelis Henao, Sebastián Ayala, and John Alex Castaño, among others. The tribute to Jiménez in Bogota will conclude around 4:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. GMT), and a second act is expected in the evening (11:00 p.m. GMT) so that his thousands of fans who could not get in in the morning have the opportunity to say goodbye to the artist.
