Conchoprimo or Concho Primo is a stereotype of peasant guerilla leaders in Dominican Republic [1] who took part in numerous uprisings. Conchoprimo is viewed as a historical national personification of the Dominican Republic. His canonical image, in peasant clothes with an accordion and a machete, was created by the cartoonist Bienvenido Gimbernard in 1919. [2]
Some Spanish dictionaries define 'conchoprimo' as "a character typical of the Montonero revolutions, who participated in armed uprisings." [3] Accordingly, the period at the beginning of the 20th century until the American intervention in 1916 is called "the era of Concho Primo" or the era of "machete generals", [4] [5] and the corresponding chaotic political situation is called conchoprimismo. [6]
The origin of the name is uncertain. There are various stories when a purported "conchoprimo" uttered in a bewilderment: "Concho, primo!". [2] [7] In this context, "concho" is a minced alteration of an expletive interjection "coño", i.e., "cunt" [7] [a] and primo means "cousin" (which may also be used as an address of familiarity, like "compay" or "bro" [8] ), i.e., the expression may be translated as "Damn, cousin!" or "Damn, bro!".
During the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo many songs were dedicated to Concho Primo, and in remembrance of his accordion, a single-row diatonic-button accordion is called Concho Primo by some Dominicans. [7]