Approximately 55% of the Bolivian people are descendants of the Aymara and Quechua pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. 20% of the population is mestizo and 25% is white. Socially, the population is in ferment. The once-stilted social structure of the nation was destroyed by 1952 social revolution that took political control from a small, white oligarchy and passed it to the indigenous majority, under white and mestizo middle class leadership. Aymara and Quechua city residents are commonly referred to as cholos. They are also referred to as campesinos (peasants) or mineros (miners).
This population pattern, like many other things in Bolivia, is changing. Anthropologists have noted that the unique Bolivian ethnic and social composition of Aymaras and Quechuas now discard some traditional ways and adopt western dress. The mixture of rich native Indian cultures with the Mediterranean culture brought by the Spaniards is apparent everywhere in Bolivia. On religious feast days, for example, pre-Columbian rites that coincide with Roman Catholic celebrations are still practiced, and Aymara, Quechua and other ethnic groups express themselves through colorful dances and songs that blend the two cultures.
In such festivities, some symbolic dress presents the Indian interpretation of European attitudes: the dance of palla-palla or loco palla-palla caricatures the European invaders, the dance of the waka-tokoris satirizes bullfights; and the morenada mocks white men, who are represented leading imported African slaves. The zampoña, quena, and charango instruments are used to accompany these dances.In the music itself, the mixture of cultures is also evident, since many of the tunes are based on Spanish dances. The more commonly-used instruments are the sicu or zampoña (panpipes) and the quena, tarka and pinkillo (vertical flutes).
Percussion instruments of various sizes are used, including skin drums, bronce gongs and copper bells. Spain’s influence is clearly seen in the charango, a stringed instrument peculiar to Bolivia. It has five double strings and is similar in shape to the guitar, although much smaller. Its sound box is made from the shell of and armadillo. The costumes, highly embroidered and colorful, imitate the dress of the pre-Columbian Indian or the dress of 16th-century Spaniards. Elaborate plaster of Paris, clothes or tin masks and elaborate feather headdresses accompany many dancers. There are at least 30 different ethnic communities in Bolivia.
Even though the Quechuas, Aymaras and Guarani are the best known, numerous other ethnic communities such as a Mojeños, Matacos, and Chiquitanos living in the tropical lowlands continue to maintain their rich cultural traditions.
Approximately 55% of the Bolivian people are descendants of the Aymara and Quechua pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. 20% of the population is mestizo and 25% is white. Socially, the population is in ferment. The once-stilted social structure of the nation was destroyed by 1952 social revolution that took political control from a small, white oligarchy and passed it to the indigenous majority, under white and mestizo middle class leadership. Aymara and Quechua city residents are commonly referred to as cholos. They are also referred to as campesinos (peasants) or mineros (miners).
This population pattern, like many other things in Bolivia, is changing. Anthropologists have noted that the unique Bolivian ethnic and social composition of Aymaras and Quechuas now discard some traditional ways and adopt western dress. The mixture of rich native Indian cultures with the Mediterranean culture brought by the Spaniards is apparent everywhere in Bolivia. On religious feast days, for example, pre-Columbian rites that coincide with Roman Catholic celebrations are still practiced, and Aymara, Quechua and other ethnic groups express themselves through colorful dances and songs that blend the two cultures.
In such festivities, some symbolic dress presents the Indian interpretation of European attitudes: the dance of palla-palla or loco palla-palla caricatures the European invaders, the dance of the waka-tokoris satirizes bullfights; and the morenada mocks white men, who are represented leading imported African slaves. The zampoña, quena, and charango instruments are used to accompany these dances.In the music itself, the mixture of cultures is also evident, since many of the tunes are based on Spanish dances. The more commonly-used instruments are the sicu or zampoña (panpipes) and the quena, tarka and pinkillo (vertical flutes).
Percussion instruments of various sizes are used, including skin drums, bronce gongs and copper bells. Spain’s influence is clearly seen in the charango, a stringed instrument peculiar to Bolivia. It has five double strings and is similar in shape to the guitar, although much smaller. Its sound box is made from the shell of and armadillo. The costumes, highly embroidered and colorful, imitate the dress of the pre-Columbian Indian or the dress of 16th-century Spaniards. Elaborate plaster of Paris, clothes or tin masks and elaborate feather headdresses accompany many dancers. There are at least 30 different ethnic communities in Bolivia.
Even though the Quechuas, Aymaras and Guarani are the best known, numerous other ethnic communities such as a Mojeños, Matacos, and Chiquitanos living in the tropical lowlands continue to maintain their rich cultural traditions.