Bolivia is a Latin country in South America located at the Andes mountains. It has a significant Native American population which mixed Spanish cultural elements with their ancestors' traditions. The Spanish-speaking population mainly follows the Western customs.
Clothing
The clothes certainly catch the attention of the visitor.
Women wear traditional bright colorful clothes with hats, full skirts (polleras ) and shawls. They carry the babies on the back, having both hands free.
Festivals
Pagan rites from the pre-Columbian era are still common during the religious festivals of the Indians.
The clothing used during the festivals reminds the visitor of the pre-Columbian Indians and the 16th century Spaniards.
Dances
Many dances and songs contain elements from both the native and the Mediterranean culture.
The dance of palla-palla or loco palla-palla , practiced by the Indians, symbolise the European invaders.
The dance of Waka-tokoris of the Native Americans is a symbolic satire of the bullfights .
Music
Music is played during the festivals and the dances. Some tunes contain strong Spanish influences.
The most common musical instruments are:
- sicu or zampoña
- quena
- tarka
- pinkillo
- skin drums
- bronze gongs
- copper bells
- charango: Has five pairs of strings and looks like a small guitar. Traditionally it was made from the shells of armadillos, but today it is mostly made of wood.
Writers
Writers of Bolivia:
- Nataniel Aguirre
- Oscar Alfaro
- Alcides Arguedas
- Alcira Cardona
- Oscar Cerruto
- Adolfo Costa Du Rels
- Antonio Díaz Villamil
- Ricardo Jaimes Freire
- Jesús Lara
- Asunta Limpias de Parada
- Carlos Medinaceli
- Jaime Mendoza
- Gabriel René Moreno
- María Josefa Mujia
- Fausto Reinaga
- Gustavo Navarro
- Gustavo Adolfo Otero
- Natalia Palacios
- Jaime Saenz
- Pedro Shimose
- Gastón Suárez
- Franz Tamayo
- Juan Wallparrimachi
- Adela Zamudio
Source: [1]
Books
External links
