By Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
Jesús Canseco
Mujer istmeña (Alrededor de 2018) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
Origin of the word Guelaguetza
The Racial Homage that took place in 1932, 90 years ago, on the occasion of the IV Centennial of the city of Oaxaca, should not be confused with the Zapotec word Guelagueza.
Costeña (Alrededor de) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
This means, in short, reciprocal help and refers to a form of reciprocity and mutual support in important moments of life in a community, it is a form of solidarity that is also known as gozona or hand turned.
Chinas Oaxaqueñas (Alrededor de 2018) by Secretaría de las Culturas y Artes de OaxacaSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
In 1936 Alberto Vargas called it "an Oaxacan racial custom."
Since the 1950s, the free and synthesized representation of the dances, sones, jarabes and customs that went to the Cerro del Fortín on Mondays after the feast of the Virgen del Carmen, which is July 16, began to be called Guelaguetza.
Fiesta de La Guelaguetza by Jesús CansecoSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
The collective appropriation of traditions
Customs and traditions change over time, some fall into disuse and others are modified by various elements: economic, social, material and human, such as migration.
But, in general, they are an expression of a collective appropriation, which accepts and assumes them as their own. Thus, the Homage of 1932 has little to do with what is currently called Guelaguetza.
Fiesta de La Guelaguetza by Jesús CansecoSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
There have been so many changes that there are even representations that their origin was induced, such as the Jarabe Mixteco around 1922 or Flor de Piña in 1958, although currently they have great acceptance because a community admits and recognizes them as part of their cultural use.
That is why it is difficult to think of placing a kind of "seal" that accredits or certifies the authenticity of a cultural tradition because, so to speak, it is in its nature to change.
Fiesta de La Guelaguetza by Jesús CansecoSecretaría de las Culturas y Artes de Oaxaca
In any case, it must be "validated" by those who reproduce it in their daily spaces, that is, the communities where it is represented and has meaning.
Text:
Salvador Sigüenza Orozco, CIESAS Pacífico Sur
Images:
Jesús Canseco
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