Bolivia's Political System: Monarchy Or Republic?

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America, with a rich history. It was once the center of the ancient Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco) empire, and was later part of the Inca empire. Today, Bolivia is a unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses. However, the country is also home to a ceremonial monarchy, recognised by the Bolivian state, which is centred in the village of Mururata in the Yungas region. The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is led by King Julio Pinedo and Queen Angélica Larrea, who are descendants of an old African tribal monarchy brought to Bolivia as slaves.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is a ceremonial monarchy

Bolivia is a democratic republic, but within it exists a ceremonial monarchy: the Afro-Bolivian Royal House. This Royal House is based in Mururata, a village in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The monarchy is recognised by the Bolivian state as a customary leader of the Afro-Bolivian community, which numbers around 25,000 people. The current king, King Julio I, and queen, Queen Angelica, live and work in a small apartment above a grocery store in the village.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is made up of the descendants of an old African tribal monarchy. The founding monarch, Uchicho, was allegedly of Kongo and Senegalese origin. He was brought to Bolivia as a slave in 1820 or 1823, and other slaves recognised him as a man of regal background due to his royal tribal marks. He was succeeded by Bonifaz, who adopted the surname of the plantation owner, Pinedo. The monarchy was then passed down through the generations, with Don Bonifacio becoming king in 1932. When he died in 1954, the kingdom was left without a king for 38 years due to the lack of a male heir. In 1992, the kingdom was revived by local elders, who crowned Don Bonifacio's grandson, Julio Pinedo, as king. Julio's wife, Angélica Larrea, became queen.

The Royal House was officially recognised by the Bolivian state in 2007, with the public coronation of King Julio and Queen Angélica in La Paz. The king's powers are largely symbolic and do not interfere with the system of the Presidential republic in force within Bolivia. However, he is an important figure for the Afro-Bolivian community, providing them with a cultural identity and a connection to their African heritage.

The current king's son and heir, Prince Rolando, was born in 1995 and is preparing for his future role as king. He has stated his ambition to continue the work of his father in making the Afro-Bolivian community more recognised and visible.

The monarchy is centred in Mururata, a village in the Yungas region of Bolivia

Bolivia is a republic with a democratically elected president as its head of state. However, the country does have a monarchy of sorts, in the form of the Afro-Bolivian Royal House, a ceremonial monarchy recognised as part of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. This monarchy is centred in Mururata, a village in the Yungas region of Bolivia.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is the continuation of an old African tribal monarchy. The founding monarch, Uchicho, was allegedly of Kongo and Senegalese origin. He was brought to Bolivia as a slave and ended up on the Hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo, in the area of Los Yungas. Here, other slaves recognised him as a man of regal background, a prince from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo, due to royal tribal marks on his torso. Uchicho was crowned in 1823 and was succeeded by Bonifaz, who adopted the surname of Pinedo, the plantation owner.

Mururata is the centre of the Kingdom of the Afro-Bolivians, a community that has remained largely unrecognised by the outside world for nearly 200 years. The roughly 2,000 inhabitants of this hidden, humble kingdom are mainly farmers who live next to their small plots of land, where they grow coca, citrus and coffee. The kingdom's monarch, King Julio Pinedo, also works as a farmer and runs a small grocery store in the village. He was crowned in 1992 and officially recognised by the Bolivian state in 2007.

The powers of the Afro-Bolivian king are similar to those of a traditional chief. King Julio does not collect taxes or have a police force. He describes his role as "mostly symbolic", representing the Afro-Bolivian community. The king's wife, Queen Angélica Larrea, co-manages the store, selling produce from their garden as well as basic supplies.

The future of the Afro-Bolivian monarchy is Prince Rolando Pinedo, the son of King Julio and Queen Angélica. At the time of writing, he is studying law at the Universidad de Los Andes in La Paz and preparing for his future role as king.

The current king, King Julio Pinedo, was crowned in 1992

The current king of the Afro-Bolivian community, King Julio Pinedo, was crowned in 1992. His coronation took place 40 years after the death of the previous king, his grandfather, King Bonifacio Pinedo, and 38 years after the kingdom was left without a king due to the lack of a male heir.

King Julio's coronation took place during a Catholic ceremony in the chapel at the hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo. His mother, Aurora Pinedo, served as princess regent between the death of her father, King Bonifacio, and the crowning of her son.

King Julio's position gained official recognition in 2007 when he was sworn in by the prefect of La Paz. He was crowned again by the government of La Paz, which helped raise awareness of Afro-Bolivian customs and traditions, including their kingdom.

The king is a descendant of Uchicho, a prince from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo who was brought to Bolivia as a slave by the Spaniards in 1820. Uchicho worked at the estate of the Marquis of Pinedo, whose name he adopted. In 1832, he was crowned by other enslaved people in the Yungas. He was succeeded by Bonifaz, next José, and then King Julio's grandfather, Bonifacio.

King Julio is a farmer and shop owner, and he still goes out to the fields often to farm coffee, citrus fruits, and coca. He is also a symbolic figure, representing the Afro-Bolivian community, and his image has become a strong source of cultural identity and belonging for Afro-Bolivians.

The Afro-Bolivian king's powers are similar to those of a traditional chief

Bolivia is not a monarchy, but it does have a ceremonial monarchy recognised as part of the country's Plurinational State. This is the Afro-Bolivian Royal House, a customary leader of the Afro-Bolivian community, which does not interfere with the system of the Presidential republic in force within the country.

The current Afro-Bolivian king, Julio Pinedo, has described his role as "mostly symbolic", and indeed, the powers of the Afro-Bolivian king are similar to those of a traditional chief. King Julio does not collect taxes or have a police force. He is a farmer and shopkeeper, and his humble lifestyle has earned him respect in the community.

King Julio represents the Afro-Bolivian community, and this is a responsibility he takes seriously. He explained: "I’m not like these rich kings of Europe, but I represent the Afro-Bolivian community, and this is a huge responsibility to me." Queen Angélica Larrea, King Julio's wife, added that community members often come to the king for advice when they are in conflict with one another.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is centred in Mururata, a village in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The kingdom was recognised by the Bolivian government in 2007, and the current king and queen were crowned in an official ceremony in La Paz. The Royal House is made up of the descendants of an old African tribal monarchy who were brought to Bolivia as slaves. The first Afro-Bolivian king, Uchicho, was crowned in 1823.

The Royal House was officially recognised by the Bolivian state in 2007

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House, or "la Casa Real Afroboliviana" in Spanish, is a ceremonial monarchy that was officially recognised by the Bolivian state in 2007. This recognition came about during a broader acknowledgement of Bolivia's minority ethnic groups, following the election of Evo Morales, the country's first indigenous president, in 2006.

The Royal House is centred in Mururata, a village in the Yungas region of Bolivia. The monarchy is considered a customary leader of the Afro-Bolivian community, which consists of roughly 2,000 inhabitants who are mainly farmers. The current monarchs are King Julio Pinedo and Queen Angélica Larrea.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is made up of the descendants of an old African tribal monarchy that were brought to Bolivia as slaves. The founding monarch, Uchicho, was allegedly of Kongo and Senegalese origin, and was recognised by other slaves as a man of regal background due to his royal tribal marks. Uchicho was succeeded by Bonifaz, who adopted the surname of the plantation owner, Pinedo.

After Bonifaz, the crown passed to Don José and then Don Bonifacio, who was born in 1880 and crowned in 1932. When Bonifacio died in 1954, the house was led by his oldest daughter, Doña Aurora Pinedo, as there was no male heir. This left the kingdom without a king for 38 years until Aurora's oldest son, Julio Pinedo, was crowned in 1992. His wife, Angélica Larrea, became queen upon his ascension.

In 2007, the Bolivian state officially recognised the Royal House with the public coronation of Julio, the current King of the Afro-Bolivian community, by the authorities of the La Paz Department. This recognition marked the first time the Afro-Bolivian monarchy was acknowledged by the state, after nearly two hundred years of royal existence.

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