Bolivia's Vibrant Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the country's history, culture, and achievements. As part of the month-long celebrations, the Smithsonian Institution hosts events in Washington, D.C., including the Zoo Fiesta. In 2018, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian hosted the Realm of the Jaguar, a series of performances featuring dances from Bolivia, Mexico, and Guatemala, along with mask-making and traditional and contemporary ceramics.

The Missouri Botanical Garden's Bolivia program

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture, observed from September 15 to October 15. During this period, various institutions, including the Missouri Botanical Garden, honour the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

The Missouri Botanical Gardens Bolivia Program

Dedicated Team

At the heart of the Bolivia program is a passionate team of experts:

• Alfredo Fuentes: Plant identification specialist
• Leslie Cayola: Program coordinator
• Claudia Aldana: Moss specialist
• Esther Mosqueira: Field and lab assistant
• Tatiana Miranda and Ana Antezana: Plant collection curators

Collaborations and Partnerships

The Missouri Botanical Garden has forged a meaningful partnership with the National Herbarium of Bolivia, reflecting a shared commitment to botanical exploration and conservation. This collaboration has been integral to the program's success and milestones.

Milestones and Discoveries

One notable achievement is the creation of the "Catalog of Bolivia's Vascular Plants," a comprehensive guide to the country's plant biodiversity. The team has also led the Madidi Project, a vast study of plant species in over 500 locations, leading to new species discoveries and insights into Andean forest ecology and responses to environmental changes.

New Ventures and Studies

The program has embarked on a collaboration with Bolivian scientist Silvia Gallegos to understand plant reactions to environmental shifts and explore invasive species dynamics and forest rehabilitation in the Bolivian Andes. This research aims to aid in the recovery of forests impacted by human activities and climate change.

Education and Empowerment

A key aspect of the Bolivia program is its emphasis on education. The team has supported over 70 students in developing research projects and shared knowledge with diverse groups, from children to policymakers. This educational impact ensures a lasting legacy and inspires the next generation of botanists and conservationists.

The Missouri Botanical Gardens Bolivia program is a shining example of the garden's dedication to conservation and research in Latin America. Through their tireless efforts, they are making significant advancements in preserving plant species and their habitats, leaving a lasting impact on the diverse ecosystems of Bolivia and beyond.

Bolivian independence

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15. It is a time to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the country. While I could not find specific details on how Bolivia celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, I can provide an overview of Bolivian independence.

Bolivia declared its independence from Spain on August 6, 1825. The movement for independence was led by Simón Bolívar, who played a key role in Latin America's successful struggle for independence from Spanish rule. The invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1807 further undermined Spain's authority in the region. The first of Latin America's independence revolts took place in Upper Peru (now Bolivia) on May 25, 1809, when radical criollos led an unsuccessful uprising. However, this set the stage for future rebellions and Spain never fully controlled Upper Peru again.

The region became a battleground between royalist troops from Peru and forces of the independent Argentine Republic. By 1817, the royalists had suppressed Argentina's independence fighters seeking to free Bolivia from Spanish control. However, conflict emerged again in 1820 between loyalists, rebels led by Simón Bolívar, and Conservative Party criollos led by General Pedro Antonio de Olañeta. Bolívar's victory at the Battle of Ayacucho in 1824, followed by the assassination of Olañeta in 1825, marked the end of Spanish rule in Upper Peru.

In August 1825, a constituent assembly led by Antonio José de Sucre, Bolívar's chief of staff, rejected attachment to either Peru or Argentina and passed a resolution of independence. The new nation became known as the Republic of Bolivia in honor of Simón Bolívar. Bolívar served as the first president of Bolivia for five months before being succeeded by Sucre in January 1826. The United States officially recognized the Republic of Bolivia and established diplomatic relations in 1848.

Bolivian food

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. It is observed from 15 September to 15 October, with many Central American countries celebrating their independence within these dates. Bolivia, too, celebrates its independence on 6 August.

Bolivian cuisine is varied and rich, with over 200 varieties of potatoes grown in the country. Here are some traditional Bolivian dishes that you can try to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month:

• Anticuchos: Grilled skewered beef or chicken hearts, served with potatoes and a spicy peanut sauce.
• Cuñapé: A dish from Eastern Bolivia, made with white cheese, egg, salt, milk, and yam flour formed into bread balls. It is often served with coffee or tea.
• Empanadas Bolivianas: Baked or fried pastries with a cheesy centre, enjoyed for breakfast or at teatime.
• Queso Humacha: A thick and creamy soup made with corn, green beans, potatoes, milk, Altiplano cheese, and Andean spices.
• Sajta de Pollo: A traditional dish with chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, plain rice, and peanuts, garnished with fresh celery, garlic, and parsley.
• Salteñas: A traditional Bolivian street food filled with a mix of sweet and savoury sauces, beef, pork, or chicken. Vegetarian options are also available.
• Silpancho: A filling dish with layers of white rice, boiled and sliced tomatoes, and thinly pounded meat. It is sometimes prepared with onion, beets, parsley, and a fried egg.
• Yuca Frita: Thin slices of deep-fried yuca (cassava), served as a snack or with grilled meats.
• Zonzo: A pancake-like entrée made with cheese and yucca, traditionally wrapped around a stick and grilled. It is now available fried, baked, or grilled.
• Alfajores: Mouth-watering cookies with a layer of Dulce de Leche in the centre.
• Helado de Canela: A light and refreshing non-dairy frozen treat flavoured with natural cinnamon and lemon juice, sold by street vendors throughout Bolivia.

Bolivian music and dance

Bolivia is known for its colourful and joyous music and dance, known locally as folklorico. The country's musical traditions are kept alive through boisterous street parades that are held regularly across the country.

One of the most popular forms of folklorico is Morenada, which tells the story of African slaves who were brought to work in the silver mines of Potosi under Spanish rule. The men wear black masks and beards, with bells around their ankles to represent slave chains, while the women wear colourful, provocative outfits. Despite the sombre history, the music and dance are upbeat and infectious.

Another form of Bolivian dance is Caporales, which originated just 50 years ago in the Afro-Boliviano community of Los Yungas. It is dedicated to the Virgin of Socavón and inspired by El Caporal, a mixed-race foreman who supervised slaves in Potosi. The dance is considered one of the most challenging to master, requiring complex steps and athletic leaps and kicks.

The Tobas dance, meanwhile, dates back to pre-colonial times when the Inca ruled much of the continent. The legend says that the Inca were so impressed by the music and dance of the Tobas tribe that they spared them, taking only the best musicians and dancers back to their kingdom for royal entertainment.

Diablada, or "The Dance of the Devils", combines Spanish theatrics with indigenous religious ceremony. Men dressed as devils, complete with elaborate horns, perform a ritualised battle dance against female angels in miniskirts until they are defeated by the Archangel, San Miguel. This dance is a remarkable example of the fusion of indigenous and Catholic beliefs, recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Finally, the Tinku dance originated as a form of playful fighting among indigenous inhabitants of the Potosi region during colonial times, providing them with some respite from the harsh realities of slavery. Tinku dancers are colourfully dressed and perform crouching, circling movements with swinging arms to a warlike drum beat.

Bolivian film

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture, observed annually from September 15 to October 15. During this period, various museums and cultural institutions in the United States host special events, exhibitions, and educational programs to honour the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

Bolivian cinema, an integral part of the country's cultural landscape, has a rich history dating back to the 1920s. While Bolivia's film infrastructure is relatively small, the country has consistently produced feature-length films, many of which are documentaries or employ documentary approaches. The predominant themes explored in Bolivian films include the country's indigenous cultures and political oppression.

One of the earliest known Bolivian films is "La profecía del lago" (The Prophecy of the Lake), a black-and-white silent drama directed by José Maria Velasco Maidana in the 1920s. Maidana also directed "Wara-Wara" (1929), the only surviving film from Bolivia's silent era.

In the 1960s, Bolivian cinema underwent a significant shift, aligning with the intellectualism and political consciousness of Latin American cinema at the time. This period, known as New Bolivian Cinema, was characterised by a rejection of Hollywood-style filmmaking, with filmmakers choosing to shoot on real locations, work with non-professional actors, and utilise inexpensive equipment. Jorge Sanjinés is considered a leader of this movement, directing films like "Yawar Malku" (Blood of the Condor, 1969) and "La Nación Clandestina" (The Secret Nation, 1989), which explored the historical and contemporary treatment of Aymara peoples.

Bolivian cinema continued to evolve with the advent of digital formats, enabling smaller and more affordable productions. This shift led to an increase in the number of feature-length films produced annually. Notable directors in contemporary Bolivian cinema include Juan Carlos Valdivia, Eduardo López, and Alejandro Pereyra.

• "La Nación Clandestina" (The Secret Nation, 1989) by Jorge Sanjinés
• "Yawar Malku" (Blood of the Condor, 1969) by Jorge Sanjinés
• "Come Back, Sebastiana" by Augusto Roca and Jorge Ruiz
• "Jonás y la Ballena Rosada" (Jonah and the Pink Whale) by Juan Carlos Valdivia
• "Lo más bonito y mis mejores años" by Martín Boulocq
• "Southern District" by Juan Carlos Valdivia

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