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The Diablada or Danza de Diablos (English: Dance of Devils) is a traditional South American dance that was created in the Andean Altiplano as a result of the introduction of the Autos Sacramentales by missionaries from Spain.^[1] The dance is practised throughout the Andean region. According to the UNESCO in its declaration as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of the Carnaval de Oruro this dance has Uru roots and it's traditional in Bolivia;^[2] nevertheless it's also considered by Peru as part of its patrimony where it's danced during the Fiesta de la Candelaria^[3] and also in Chile during the Fiesta de la Tirana.

There are two versions regarding the first records of the place where the Spanish traditions and the native Andean beliefs mixed to form what is called Diablada today. According to the anthropologist Freddy Arancibia Andrade, this took place after the year 1538 in the miner region of Aullagas located in northern Potosí now Bolivia where the natives adopted the figures of the Devil and the archangel Michael and blended them with the steps of rebellion and combat of the ancient tradition of the Tinku. From there first passed to the city of Oruro and now is performed in over 250 other locations in Bolivia, Peru and Chile.^[4][1]

On the other hand a similar event was recorded in 1576 on Juli, Puno, in the area of present-day Peru;^[3] from where other trend of historians consider that it spread to other parts of the Spanish domain in the Americas.^[5] In the XVI century, Spanish Jesuit missionaries spread the Autos Sacramentales, a dramatic representation of the mystery of the Eucharist, in the Viceroyalty of Peru, beginning in the city of Juli.^[5] During the evangelism of the native Lupakas people of Juli, also known as the "Aymaran Rome," the missionaries instilled the paradigm of good and evil by teaching the natives their theatrical dance which was a representation of the seven deadly sins that concluded with the victory of the angels over the demons (which is how the costumes of angels and demons became associated with the dance). The result was a fusion between Spanish and Aymaran culture in the altiplano as the original dance taught by the Jesuit missionaries adopted Andean elements.^[6][4]

The Diablada's spiritual value as a mixture between two cultures goes as far back as 1538, where in the mines of Aullagas (located in northern Potosí, in present-day Bolivia) the natives adopted Christian religious figures and adapted them to their indigenous religious visions.^[4] The dance eventually became part of a series of Christian religious festivities, most prominently during the celebrations to the Virgin of Candelaria (also known as the Virgin of Socavón).^[4] These Christian rituals replaced the old Andean beliefs and mythology, and the festivities changed from honoring what were considered "pagan" gods to that of honoring Christian saints and God. Over the years, the Diablada has developed uniquely in various regions of South America, which has led to variations such as the Afro-Peruvian Son de Los Diablos and the Diablada Puneña of Peru, and the Diablada de Oruro of Bolivia.^[7]

History

The Diablada has its roots in the medieval Auto Sacramental dances of El Balls des Diables and Els Sets Pecats Capitals, which originated in the region of Catalonia in Spain.^[1] During the Spanish colonization of the Americas, more especifically in the years after the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire and during the establishment of the Viceroyalty of Peru, the first Diablada is recorded to have taken place in 1576 on Juli, Puno, in the area of present-day Peru, as a result of Spanish Jesuit missionaries presenting the Autos Sacramentales to the native Lupakas population of the area.^[3][5]

The success of this method resulted in the expansion of the Diablada to other areas of the Altiplano, including Oruro in Bolivia.^[5] However, the Diablada would not formally take role in any major celebration until 1892 when the Sicuris of the Barrio Mañazo officialized the dance as part of the devotion practices for the Virgin of Candelaria.^[5] According to Bolivian historian Elena Fortun, in 1904 the Diablada was formalized in Oruro as part of its festivities in the Carnaval de Oruro.^[5]

In 2009, Bolivia claimed sole ownership of the dance and all its elements, but this claim has been a matter of dispute with Peru which claims the dance to be of the cultural heritage of all nations who hold Aymara culture.^[8]

Regional Variations

Cajamarca

La Tirana

Lima

Oruro

Piura

Puno

In popular culture

Miss universe dispute

In August 1 of 2009 Bolivian officials stated that it could present a legal appeal to the organizers of Miss Universe due to the planned use of a typical Diablada wear by the Peruvian candidate Karen Schwarz. Pablo Groux, Bolivian minister of Culture, said that any use of the wear by Scharwz in the content would be an unlawful appropriation of Bolivian heritage and have menaced to bring the case to the International Court of Justice. El Comercio, a Peruvian newspaper, have mentioned that this is not the first time the diablada wear is shown in the contest and that it was María Josefa Isensee, a Chilean, that first used it in the Miss Universe contest. Peruvian foreign minister José Antonio García Belaúnde said that since the Diablada dress is of indigenous Aymara origin it can not be considered an exclusive of any of the particular countries where the Aymara live.^[8][9]

Bolivia's demand

In 2009, Bolivia began a propaganda campaign in order to show the world that the Diablada was a Bolivian dance native to Oruro. This campaign was carried out through television stations such as CNN and Telesur.^[10] Bolivia claims that UNESCO recognizes the Diablada as a Bolivian dance.^[11] After the event of Miss Universe, the Bolivian ambassador in France gathered with the UNESCO assistant director Marcio Barbossa; after the reunion the Bolivian ambassador was satisfied because according to her the assistant director expressed his solidarity with Bolivia on this issue;^[12] in response, the Permanent Delegation of Peru to the UNESCO sent a communicate expressing their inconformity.^[13]

See also

• Diablada Puneña
• Fiesta de la Candelaria
• Carnaval de Oruro
• Fiesta de La Tirana
• Brazilian Carnival

References

External links

• [1]
• [2]
• Interscholastic dance Competition - Diablada Puneña