The Quechua language is nown by its speakers as 'Runi Simi' or the language of people, the term
Quechua refers more to the language than to a concrete ethic group, it is spoken by millions of
people in Peru.
The Inca empire which later became the Iingua France, a language commonly adopted by speakers
whose native launguages are different of the Spanish and Indians throughout the Andes.
The Quechua formed an important part of the agricultural backbone of Andean civiisation since
the 15th century, when they were conquered by the Chancas who, themselves, subjugated by
Incas in the later years of that century when the Spanish conquerednthe Inca empire in the
16th century and the Quechua came under Spanish rule, Quechua society was drastically altered
by the Spanish 'encomiedsa' system of tribute required the Quechua to produce unfamiliar crops
for the Spanish at the expense of their own food supply.
The Spanish system, unlike its Inca predecessor, did not provide for the welfaare of the labourer
and his family during his term of forced labour.
By the time Spanish rule ended in the 19th century, the Quechua had been so changed that many
remained as servents on the Grand Haciendas and estates, others went to towns and cities of
the lowlands to find employment, though some stayed in their mountainous homelands.
In The 21st century the Quechua lead isolated lives as marginal farmers in the high Andes, their
region is an amalgam of Roman Catholicism and native folks beliefs, they practised their
traditional fibre crafts, spinning wool and weaving fabrics for both domestic use and for sale to
outsiders.
The Quechau celebrate Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter , at the same time they
have not abandoned their ancient holidays.
The Inti Ratmi, Sun festival, is a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honour of the God Inti,
it draws thousands of tourists, in June, from all over the world to witness the spectacular festivities,donning replicas of Inca tunics rather than the contemporary Andean garb, there is plenty
of drinking, eating, music including the panpipes.
Children in Quechau play many important roles from a young age, they participate in economic
activities and household tasks.
As in most other subsistence economies, children are essential as they are expected to provide
long-term economic security to their parents as they age.
The average family is considered to be 3 or 4 children, however due to limited access to birth control many families have as much as 10 or more children, generally male children are more
highly valued than the female, as their economic potential is seen to be greater .
Women play a subordinate role compared with men in the community structure.
Women are less likely to receive a formal education , do not hold significant positions of power
within the community and excluded from many potentially profitable economic activities, a
clear division of labour with regard to both agricultural and household tasks within the family,
Women do have a say in matters such as decisions about finance or issues surrounding the upbringing of the children.
Because of the lack of distinct anthropological identity Quechua speakers and those of Quechua
heritage , population in the 21 century as estimated as 13 million.
In mountain valleys there is rich soil and access to water suitable for farming, most Quechua
however live on the stark, steep slopes of the central Andes, here the soil is poor ,the wind , strong,
and the weather very cold.
The quality of health care is still extremely poor, most Quechau first turn to a 'Curandero'
meaning a 'curer' who provides herbal medicines and treatment .
The Quechau have been the subject of numerous biological and medical studies aimed at
understanding physiological adaption to living to high-altitude living.
The characteristic music of the Andes is Calle 'Huayno' Since 1989 Jaime Rodriguez known as
'Wayru' , has spread the exotic sounds of the traditional Incan music which is dated back as far as
500 years, representing one of the most well preserved forms of Native American culture.
In the Incan culture 'Wayru' means 'Wind'
can be heard playing some of the most haunting melodies in the planet.
One of these songs, ' El Condor Pasa' was a hit record for the singing duo,
Simon and Garfunkel.
The word Zampona is Spanish, in the native language of Quechau, the pipes are known as 'Antara'
The panpipes family consists of the Malta, the smallest on to the Zampona then the largest of all is the Toyo which is 4 feet long.
The pipe were originally made of light reed called 'songo' that grow in the banks of the Lake
Titicaca.
The Zampona has two separate rows of pipes, open at one end and closed at the other end, there
are six pipes per row, horizontally arranged with the open end at the top.
They are held together by a string that goes between the pipes then around them, there is so
many variations of this simple instrument , exploring Zamponas would be a great way to learn
more about the culture and music of this region.
https://youtu.be/M_gSydN_BYM
"Music is the language of the spirit,
It opens the secret of life, bringing
it peace,
abolishing strife"
By Kahlil Gabran
Wayru means wind