Exploring Bolivia's Rich Cultural Diversity: Ethnic Groups

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a Spanish-speaking country in western-central South America with a population of around 11 million people. Bolivia is a multiethnic country with more than 50 different ethnic groups. The majority of Bolivians are Native South Americans (Amerindians) and people of mixed Native American and European ancestry (Mestizos). Minority groups include Europeans, Asians, and Africans, among others. The country's principal ethnic groups historically were a majority of Quechua or Aymara indigenous people, a small number of European-descended whites, and a larger and more diverse group of Mestizos.

Amerindians/Indigenous Bolivians

Amerindians, also known as Indigenous Bolivians, are the predominant Native American Ancestry group in Bolivia. They are the descendants of the Pre-Hispanic cultures of the Andean region and constitute 20% of the country's population, although some estimates place the figure at between 62-70%.

The Amerindian people include the Andeans, such as the Aymaras and Quechuas, who were part of the ancient Inca Empire. The Aymara and Quechua women are called Cholitas. These two groups are the largest Indigenous communities in Bolivia and are concentrated in the western departments of La Paz, Potosí, Oruro, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca. The Aymara people live on the high plateau of the departments of La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí, as well as some small regions near the tropical flatlands. The Quechua people inhabit the valleys of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca and some mountain regions in Potosí and Oruro. They further divide themselves into several Quechua nations, such as the Tarabucos, Ucumaris, and Chalchas.

There are also significant Indigenous populations in the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarija, and Pando. These groups include the Chiquitano, Guaraní, Moxos, Guarayos, Chiquitanos, Ayoreos, Moxeños, and Pacahuaras, among others.

The Indigenous peoples of Bolivia are divided into two main ethnic groups: the Andeans, who inhabit the Andean Altiplano and the valley region, and the lowland groups, who live in the warm regions of eastern Bolivia, including the valleys of Cochabamba, the Amazon Basin areas of northern La Paz, and the lowland departments of Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, and Tarija.

The Indigenous peoples of Bolivia have faced a history of marginalization and lack of representation in the country's politics. However, the late 20th century saw a surge of social and political mobilization among these communities, with movements such as the Katarista movement seeking to pursue an Indigenous political identity. In recent years, they have made significant strides in gaining political representation and rights, with the election of Evo Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, and the establishment of a plurinational state.

Mestizos

The Mestizos are people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry. The term was introduced during the Spanish empire's control of various colonies. Mestizos constitute 68% to 70% of the Bolivian population, making them the dominant ethnic group in the country. They are distributed throughout the entire country, with the predominantly mestizo departments being Beni, Santa Cruz, and Tarija.

Most people assume their mestizo identity while at the same time identifying themselves with one or more indigenous cultures. Genetic research indicates that the ancestry of Bolivian mestizos is predominantly indigenous. Mestizos are the mixed Native Americans and European ancestry. They are the largest ethnic group in Bolivia, with a population of around 11 million inhabitants.

Today, various Mestizos assume the Mestizo identity and an indigenous culture as well. They are found throughout the country, but the departments of Beni, Santa Cruz, and Tarija have the highest populations of Mestizos. The Mestizo culture has also influenced the development of Bolivian society and culture, including its art, literature, music, dance, and cuisine.

Europeans/White Bolivians

White Bolivians, also known as Caucasian or European Bolivians, are people with predominantly or totally European and West Asian ancestry. They make up 5% of the country's population of around 11 million, although a 2014 survey found that only 3% of respondents identified as white.

The majority of White Bolivians are descended from Criollos of Spanish descent, as well as Europeans and Arabs from Spain, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia. In the official 1900 census, those who self-identified as "Blanco" (white) were recorded as 12.72% of the population, or 231,088 people, and were defined as being descendants of foreigners, principally Spaniards. This was the last census to ask a detailed question about ethnic background.

White Bolivians mainly live in the largest cities and major towns, such as Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba, and Tarija. In the Santa Cruz Department, there is a significant colony of 70,000 German-speaking Mennonites.

Compared to the Indigenous population, fewer White Bolivians live in poverty. The concept of race in Bolivia is fluid, and perceptions of race may be tied to socioeconomic status, with the possibility of a person achieving "whitening" through economic advancement. Differences in language, educational status, and employment status may also influence perceptions of what constitutes a person as "white".

Afro-Bolivians/Black Bolivians

Afro-Bolivians, or Black Bolivians, are people of Sub-Saharan African heritage. They are recognised as one of the constituent ethnic groups of Bolivia by the country's government and are ceremonially led by a king—currently Julio Pinedo—who traces his lineage back to a line of monarchs that reigned in Africa during the medieval period.

Afro-Bolivians are descended from enslaved West Africans brought by the Spanish between the 16th and 19th centuries to work in the mines of Potosí, a city in southwestern Bolivia. The mines are notorious for claiming the lives of roughly eight million enslaved indigenous South Americans and Africans over a 300-year period. Many died as a result of being overworked, underfed, and suffering in the region's extreme cold and toxic smelter fumes.

After emancipation in 1827, Afro-Bolivians relocated to the Yungas region of the Department of La Paz, where they were employed on farms, cultivating the coca leaf, coffee, or citrus fruits. In the early 19th century, they were relocated to the warm Yungas to work on the Spanish-owned hacienda plantation estates. It was here that an unofficial "kingdom" formed in 1820 among a group of enslaved Afro-Bolivians. This mini-monarchy has always functioned more like a tribe, and the kingdom was finally recognised by the Bolivian government in 2007.

The Afro-Bolivian Royal House is a ceremonial monarchy officially recognised as part of the Plurinational State in Bolivia. The royal family are the descendants of an African noble line that was brought to Bolivia as slaves. The founding monarch, Uchicho, was allegedly of Kongo and Senegalese origin and was brought to the Hacienda of the Marquis de Pinedo in the area of Los Yungas in what is now the La Paz Department. Other slaves recognised him as a man of regal background when they saw his torso exposed with royal tribal marks. Uchicho was later crowned in 1823, and the monarchy has survived to the present day.

Many Afro-Bolivians have adopted the Aymara language and culture, and the Afro-Bolivian Spanish dialect. Their music and dance, however, remain distinctive. The biggest African influence in Bolivian culture is Saya music or La Saya. The word saya originates from Kikongo nsaya, referring to the act of singing while performing communal work. Although Saya is growing in popularity in Bolivia, it is still very misunderstood due to the peculiar interpretation of the instruments and the rhythm. It involves Andean instruments incorporated with African percussion, including the drum, gourds, shakers, and even jingles bells that are attached to the dancers' clothing on the ankle area.

During the performance of saya, the Afro-Bolivians wear Aymara-style clothing. The women wear a bright multi-coloured blouse with ribbons, a multi-coloured skirt called a "pollera", with a "manta" (back cover) in their hand, and a bowler hat. The men wear a hat, a feast shirt, an Aymara-style sash around the waist, woollen thick cloth pants called "bayeta pants", and sandals.

Despite the Afro-Bolivian community fervently working to preserve their culture, many have reported experiencing severe racism and feelings of isolation from society due to intolerance. The first anti-discriminatory law (Law 45) was passed in 2010 and was met with violent protesting and rioting. In 2009, President Evo Morales added amendments to the national constitution that outlined the rights of Afro-Bolivians and guaranteed the protection of such liberties. The amendments also generally extended to indigenous peoples and officially recognised Afro-Bolivians as a minority group in Bolivia.

Asians

The Japanese community in Bolivia has a notable presence in the Okinawa colony in the Santa Cruz region. On the other hand, the Lebanese community, along with individuals of Syrian descent, contribute to the small percentage of Bolivians with Middle Eastern ancestry.

In addition to the Japanese and Lebanese populations, other Asian ethnic groups are also present in Bolivia, including Chinese and Korean communities. These minority groups collectively contribute to the diverse cultural landscape of the country.

It is worth noting that the Asian population in Bolivia is part of the larger demographic context of the country, which is predominantly made up of Mestizos (mixed Native American and European ancestry), Indigenous Bolivians or Amerindians, and smaller percentages of White Bolivians, Black Bolivians or Afro-Bolivians, and other minority groups. The country's multicultural fabric is further enriched by its multilingual nature, with Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani being the most widely spoken languages.

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