Afro-Peruvian Identity and Its Connection with the Land:The Guayabo-Chincha Case

Abstract

Most contemporary Afro-Peruvian communities suffer social, spatial and economic discrimination. The country's hierarchical social structure is the legacy left by the Spaniards since the colonial period. National rhetoric on race also disparages the contribution of African descended communities to Peru's culture. By contrast, the community of El Guayabo in southern Peru has developed a strong, positive identity. This thesis presents an analysis of the attributes of positive identity developed in El Guayabo, researched through a process of interviews and participant observation. This thesis will investigate how the community of Guayabo could develop such a positive self identity as compared to other Afro-Peruvian communities, mainly those in the capital of Lima. For the people of El Guayabo this positive identity is focused on the organization of their community with a social and economic attachment to land, work, music, and cultural heritage.