forwards and backwards. He then got up and played the most beautiful melody ever heard. The moon and stars returned to the sky. The devil let out an ear-piercing scream, and fled into the mountains, leaving Francisco as the winner of the duel, and bestowing upon him the moniker of el Hombre (the Man). The historical Francisco el Hombre There is dispute over who (if anyone) the legend of Francisco el Hombre is based on, but it is generally accepted that it was either Francisco Moscote Guerra, or Francisco Rada Batista. Francisco Moscote Guerra was a famous Vallenato player from the town of Plato in the administrative department of Magdalena. He is mentioned in the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude as "an old globe-trotter of almost 200 years who frequently passed by Macondo divulging the songs composed by himself". The Colombian Ministry of Culture considers him the most probable candidate. Francisco Rada Batista, also known as "Pancho Rada," (1907–2003) is also proposed as the legendary figure. He was certainly a legendary Vallenato artist. He is credited with revolutionizing the genre throughout his life, and is also credited with inventing the Vallenato subgenre known as son. the 2000 documentary film The Devil's Accordion asserts that he is the namesake of the legendary figure. Regardless of who his true identity may have been, his image has deeply permeated throughout Colombia. The world's largest Vallenato festival, held in the genre's birthplace of Valledupar is called Festival de la Leyenda Vallenata (Festival of the Vallenato Legend). Another large Colombian music Festival is simply called, Festival Francisco el Hombre. Many images, statues, and sculptures of him can also be found over the country. References Latin American folklore People whose existence is disputed