LITERATURE

ORIGINAL LITERATURE: LEGEND AND STORIES IN CULTURES

Indigenous Originaries

The towns ofBoliviathey have a rich oral tradition, manifested in myths,

legends, stories, etc., that due to neglect, have not yet been put on paper. The
The Bolivian population, mostly made up of indigenous people and mestizos, has enriched
the national literature with various shades, creole or of another kind, to turn it into
what we appreciate today: a rich literature, native to the lowlands
(Amazonia), of the valleys and of theAndesBolivians. The constant political agitation that
Bolivia has experienced throughout its history (revolutions, coups, dictatorships,
civil wars, wars with neighboring countries) has hindered the intellectual development of
country. Many talents had to emigrate or were suffocated by the internal upheaval.
However, in recent years, Bolivian literature is undergoing a process of
growth, adding to the canonical names such asAdela Zamudio, Oscar Alfaroy
Franz Tamayoand others by recent authors.

PRECOLONIAL AND COLONIAL HISTORY

TheIncasthey developed thequipus, what they were a systemmnemonicof strings andknotsof

woolocottonused for accounting records of assets, resources, and events more
important, as there are also rock paintings and petroglyphs from the pre-Columbian era. In
change, they lacked written language, and what is known and understood about them is what the
Spanish chroniclers reproduced in their writings as gathered directly from the transmission.
oral of theIncas, curacas, generals andwise men, not only in relation to the political system-
social, cult, traditions, culture, etc., of the ancient inhabitants of the lake and the highlands, such as
theantisand other cultures submerged in the enigma, for example, theTiahuanaco.

From literatureQuechuathere are only beautiful songs and oral legends, poems, hymns
religious and heroic tales.

The lyrical poetry of the Quechuas was accompanied by music, which is equivalent to saying that it was
sung. The concern of their priests and poets was aimed at surrendering
homage to the gods, it was sung during sowing, in peace and in war, in drought and
at the annual party.

During the colonial period, writers such asAntonio de la CalanchayVicente Pazos

Kanki, but it is toBartolomé Arzáns de Orsúa and Velawho has the honor of being
considered the author of the first work of Bolivian literature: History of the Imperial Villa of
Potosí.

Nineteenth Century and Beyond

At the beginning of the republican era, it stands outJuan

Wallparrimachi.During a good part of thecentury
XIXthe historianGabriel René Morenohe is the main reference of Bolivian literature.

The first literary works appeared at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of theXXwith authors such as
Nataniel Aguirre,Ricardo Jaimes Freyre,Alcides ArguedasFranz Tamayo,Gregorio Reynolds,
Jaime MendozayArmando Chirveches.During the first half of the20th centurystand out
furthermoreAdela ZamudioLindaura Anzoategui Campero,Demetrius Canelas,Abel Alarcón
Tristan MarofEnrique Finot,Félix del Granadoamong others.

Adela Zamudioone of the main figures of Bolivian literature

During the second half of the mentioned century, nationalist literary works become more pronounced.
notable writers such asRaúl Otero Reiche,Augusto CéspedesJavier del Granado
Carlos MedinaceliAntonio Díaz Villamil,Oscar Alfaro,Raúl Botelho GosálvezJoaquín Aguirre
Lavayén.On the other hand, authors who establish a new way of doing are consecrated.
universal literature in Bolivia, likeJaime Sáenz,Oscar CerrutoJulio de la Vega,Jesus
UrzagastiJesus LaraRenato Prada Oropeza,Eduardo Mitre,Pedro Shimose,Néstor Taboada
Terán,Gaston Suarez.

THE 10 MOST OUTSTANDING LEGENDS AND MYTHS OF BOLIVIA

The main legends and myths of Bolivia incorporate indigenous elements with beliefs
Catholics. The most prominent are the guajojó, a bird that used to be a woman; the jichi, a genius.
guardian; and Chiru Chiru, a thief who helped the poor, among others.

It is currently estimated that around 40 villages inhabit this region. This means that the
Bolivian mythology is so rich, complex, and peculiar. It also contributes to the amount of
characteristics and traditions influenced by the varied geographical environments.

This Andean country, with a population of just over 10 million inhabitants,

it has in its repertoire ancestral myths about natural phenomena such as rain and drought, and
legends about life in the mines.

In Bolivian myths and legends, one can see the cultural syncretism that identifies them. Even
there is an overlap of indigenous beliefs and characters from Catholic religion. In these
stories reflect an important part of the history and experiences of this town, among which
we indicate below:

1- CHIRIGUANA LEGEND

According to the Chiriguanos, a Tupí-Guaraní ethnicity that occupied Bolivian territories, the origin of this
The legend is in the story of two brothers: Tupaete and Aguara-tumpa, good and evil,
creation and destruction.

In ancient times, Aguara-tumpa was jealous of his brother's creation and burned everything.
the fields and forests where the Chiriguanos lived.

To protect them, Tupaete recommended that they move to the rivers, but his brother refused to.
surrendered and made it rain until the entire chiriguania was flooded.

Having surrendered to fate, Tupaete spoke to his children. They would all die. However, for
to save the race, they were ordered to choose the two strongest among all their children to put them in
a giant mate.

Thus, the two brothers remained protected until Aguara-tumpa believed them to be extinct.
all the chiriguanos and let the fields dry up. The children grew up and left their
hiding place.

The children encountered Cururu, a giant toad that gave them fire and allowed them.
survive until they were large enough to reproduce and restore the race
chiriguana

2- THE GUAJOJÓ

In the jungle, after it has fallensun, the song of the guajojó is heard. They say it is almost a
Sobbing, a heartbreaking sound that leaves those who hear it shaken.
Its song can be heard in the jungle, in some regions of the Amazon. The guajojó is a bird, but
according to the legend, she was once a woman.

She was the daughter of a chief who fell in love with a man from her same tribe. When she found out, her
father used his wizard powers to kill the suitor in the thickness of the jungle by
not to consider it worthy.

When the Indian woman began to suspect the prolonged absence of her beloved, she went to
to search for it. Upon finding the remnants of the crime, he threatened his father with reporting him to the tribe.
To protect herself, the chief turned her into a bird. Ever since, she has been crying over the death.
of her beloved.

3- ORIGIN OF CORN

One day the god Ñandú Tampa came across some twins, Guaray (sun) and Yasi (moon), playing.
alone in the mountain. Upon seeing them, he thought they would be good company for the god father Ñanderu
He quickly caught them and flew away to deliver them.

The mother heard her children and ran towards them, but she could only take them by the thumbs.
of the foot, which remained in his hands while the god Ñandú stubbornly continued his
path.

Some time later, the father god ordered the mother in a dream to plant the thumbs of
his children. After a long period of sun and rain, large plants began to grow.
in the shape of a spear from the place where he buried the twins' fingers.

From these plants began to produce fruits with grains of different colors: yellow, white, and
purples, as a gift from the father god.

4- RAIN AND DROUGHT

The story goes that Pachamama (the earth) and Huayra Tata (the wind) were a couple. Huayra
Tata lived at the top of peaks and abysses, and every now and then he would go down and empty the lake.
Titicaca to fertilize Pachamama, then letting the water fall in the form of rain.

When he fell asleep in the lake, the waters became disturbed, but he always returned to the
summits, which were their domains.

5- THE JICHI

The Chiquitanos believe in a guardian spirit that changes shape. Although sometimes it is a toad and
other tiger, its most common manifestation is that of the serpent.

It protects the waters of life, and for this reason, it hides in rivers, lakes, and wells. Sometimes, like
punishment for those who do not value this resource, they leave and leave drought behind.

The deity must be paid tribute, because if it gets upset it endangers the prosperity of fishing and
the survival of the peoples.

6- THE MINE KEEPER

"The Uncle": this is how the protector of the underground world in Potosí is known. There, where the domains
they do not reach God, the miners have surrendered to the devil's tutelage, whom they nicknamed 'the
uncle

After centuries of mining exploitation initiated by the Spanish colony and countless
deaths (it is said that they exceeded eight million), can still be found in the hallways of
the figurines of the mines surrounded by beers, cigarettes, and even sacrificed animals in
adoration to the uncle, so that he may protect them.

The risks for miners are very high. Some of the causes of deaths of these
workers are the rudimentary protective equipment, the lack of oxygen, the possibilities
of accidents and the constant threat of black lung disease.

The worship of the devil gives these men and children the hope of protection. While the uncle
be happy, you will be able to return home.

7- CHIRU CHIRU

Chiru Chiru was a thief who lived in the mines, a kind of Robin Hood who shared what
who stole among the poor.

One day a miner found him stealing and injured him. They say that when they went to look for him at his...
cave, where he took refuge after the attack, they found his corpse next to an image of the
Virgin. Since then, the Chiru Chiru cave became a sacred place.

8- THE DESTRUCTION OF HUARI

An evil god named Huari decided to confront the Uru tribe for having followed the
path of good

He sent plagues and monsters like snakes and toads to destroy the population, but the Virgin of
A sinkhole came to his rescue and fought with the god until he fled and hid where no one could find him.
I could find him more.

9- OBOISH

In Bolivia, there are also beliefs in diseases similar to the evil eye, but deadly.
called "oboish" or "malpuesto".

This evil can only be cured by sorcerers who sold their souls to the devil. The remedies
they go from holy water to whips made of animal skin.

10- THE ELVES

The goblin is a recurring character in Bolivian stories. Different versions speak of

white clothes, hats, and other distinctive outfits, but they all agree that it is a
boy whose eyes reveal evil.

They say he died before he was baptized and now he goes around playing tricks. Some
stories claim that he has an iron hand and with it strikes anyone he encounters; others
stories associate him with murders.

ACCOUNT OF THE INDIGENOUS ORIGINAL CULTURES

A narrative is aknowledgewhich is generally transmitted in detail regarding a

certain fact. The concept, which has its origin in the Latin word relātus, also
allows naming thestoriesand the narratives that are not too lengthy.

The stories can be fictional (like a tale or an epic) or belong to the world of the
non-fiction (like journalistic news). Of course, it's not the same to write (narrate) a
a work of fiction that informs about a true event. In any case, the narrative style
the narrative is maintained in both worlds.
It is important to note that the story transcends theliteratureand the written word. When aperson
one tells something to another, they are recounting a situation, that is, constructing a narrative.

The tales anarrationstructured in which events are represented by the

language. The stories can be fictional or represent historical characters or events. They
understand that the narrative is based on a succession of events, which through isotopies
they help make reading uniform. It has been present in all times, places and in
all societies since the beginning of humanity; and for it to be a narrative, certain elements are needed
three parts: who narrates, what is narrated, and who receives the information. The narrative is created and transmitted.
through oral and written language, which gives us a temporal dimension of life. The
the distinction between types of narratives lies in the differences in their structures and their intentions.

LITERARY NARRATIVE

This type of narrative is found in all literary manifestations such as the

legend, fable, story, novel, epic, etcetera. And generally it is represented by the
writing. The narrative builds the characters, the events, times, and spaces, and it
develop from one or several narrative voices.

TESTIMONIAL ACCOUNT

It consists of helping to preserve memory, or even to create it if it did not exist.

any knowledge. And it is worth mentioning that the story obtained in the end will be permeated by
the context of who speaks.

THE INDIGENOUS CREATION STORY

In the historical tradition of the Kollas, Lake Titicaca was the birthplace of the world.
Having emerged from the shores of Lake Titicaca, he created the sky and the earth.

The earth in that first time was dark and populated by the people of the time of
the darkness. But since these first people did not know how to fulfill their creator, Qhun
Tikienojado emerged from the water once again, and that first people and their rulers remained.
turned to stone.

The second time Qhun Tikii came out of the water, he did so accompanied by several assistants and made the
the sun, the moon, and the stars. He commanded the sun to "walk the path it walks." Then he made
people of stone, mostly pregnant women, children, and a principal by governor.

People were created by nations, then he commanded to come out from sources of water, rivers, lagoons,
hills and caves. He assigned his assistants the task of recording the names and identities of each
created thing.

Since that primordial time, five ages have passed according to Guaman Poma:

1. Wari Wiraqhucha Runa/pacarimoc runa (the first people with the quality of gods)
2. Wari Runa (the first people)
3. Purun Runa (the first people: without culture, organization, and government)
4. Awqa Runa (the age of the people of war)
Inka Pacha (the time of the Incas)

The Fifth sun that corresponded to the Incas was violently and abruptly interrupted by the
Spanish invasion occurring Pacha Thijra, which is of destruction.

Rescue ancestral stories and knowledge from 31 indigenous nations of Bolivia

The Ministry of Cultures and Tourism, together with the Organization of American States for the
Education, Science and Culture and the financing of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation
International for Development, rescued the ancestral stories and knowledge of 31 nations
indigenous-origin peasant women of Bolivia.

The work was carried out within the framework of the mandate of the Political Constitution of the State, which
recognizes and highlights the presence of different indigenous languages, native-peasants in
Bolivia through the project "Rescue of Oral History in Languages and Human Values to
through traditional tales.

This project was initiated under the framework of the Political Constitution of the State that indicates to enhance and
mark the presence of indigenous languages in Bolivia, which is why we work on their rescue
this wealth in the country.

He added that the recognition of 36 indigenous peoples was not an easy task, as it was only
I was able to gather stories from 31 of them, with some having isolated themselves and others no longer speaking the
indigenous language.

He added that with the work done and presented in audiovisual format, it will be possible to see what
recovered with the greatest reality possible because it was done with the people of the community.

For his part, the Minister of Cultures of Bolivia, Marko Machicao, said that Bolivia is the first
country at the Ibero-American level that can offer 'everyone' a tool for growth and
Recognition of self-identification that will be disseminated so that it becomes known.