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Click image for song
"Ñuca Churipac"
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From the time of their ancestors, the
townspeople of Peguche (province of Imbabura) have used
music as an important mode of expression. From this indigenous
town, famous for its mystical waterfall, comes Ñanda
Mañachi (Translation: Let me borrow the
road) a traditional Andean band. The band has been playing
for 31 years, sharing through music their culture and
the lives of their pueblo.
Surrounded by quenas, rondadores,
charangos and other Andean instruments, we talked
with the bands director, José Luis Pichamba,
in his home: "The group was started in Ibarra by
Chopín Thermes, a friend from France. Ñanda
Mañachi was initially a health organization
dedicated to help the campesinos. "
After observing the innate musical talent
of the indigenous farmers, the project changed to uniting
the musicians from Imbabura under one roof. "In the
beginning we were made up of members from the many communities
of of Imbabura such as Cajas, Carabuela, Zuleta and more.
Today we are all from Peguche. We continue to work and
struggle and that is how we survive." Today, only
three of its original members are still around.
Thirteen musicians make up the current
band. Their music encompasses such rhythms as: san
juanitos, tonadas, albazos and others.
What makes the band special is a combination of the versatility
with which the musicians play the Andean wind and string
instruments, the traditional dance which accompanies the
presentations and hearing the songs in their native Quichua.
The band has toured throughout Ecuador
and, internationally, has visited such countries as the
USA and Denmark: "Last year we were in Asia for the
first time, in Japan. Our music is appreciated for being
traditional. For this reason, when we are abroad we represent
our country as Ecuadorians not as Otavaleños."
The house of Ñanda Mañiachi
in Peguche also functions as a workshop were traditional
Andean instruments are made and as an art gallery. "We
hope to provide more workshops of Andean instruments and
music so our children can take advantage of this knowledge
to better their lives. Of course, our workshops are open
to all who want to learn."
The band is currently working on a greatest
hits collection, remixing songs from their eight albums.
This week's MP3 is the song, "Ñuca
Curipac" (To My Son) from their latest album, La
persistencia de los sueños (The Persistence
of Dreams). The song is a San Juanito whose words, written
by José Pichamba, tells of the importance of transmitting
folklore through the generations in an effort to preserve
community ideals.
We present here the words of the song
in its original language:
Ñuca Churipac
(To My Son)
| Ñuca
charishca rondadorgucuna |
The
rondador that I've always played, |
| Llquicllachari
pihanbash quindaga |
Sadly
will stay with someone. |
| Ñuca
churipa maquipi quidacpi |
If
it stayed in the hands of my son, |
| Cushijushpacha
ñucapash quidaiman |
It
would for certain be happier. |
| |
| Ñuca
charisha flauta sucuscuna |
The
woodpipes that I have always played, |
| Llaquicllachari
pihuanbash quidanga |
Sadly
will stay with someone. |
| Causaimandami
jullashpa charini |
Because
I live taking care of it, |
| Jipa
punllaca llaquiclla chinganga |
It
would be sad if one day it was lost. |