Exploring Bolivia: Unveiling The Country's Endearing Local Names

Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is a multiethnic and multilingual society, with a population of around 11-12 million people. The country is home to people of various ethnic, religious, and national origins, with the majority of the population made up of indigenous and Old World immigrants and their descendants.

The modern Bolivian population can be broken down into Amerindians (primarily Quechua, Aymara, and Guaraní peoples), Mestizos, Europeans, and Afro-Bolivians. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua.

Bolivia's constitutional capital is Sucre, while La Paz is the seat of government. La Paz is also the country's highest capital city, located two miles above sea level.

The country's name

The country of Bolivia is officially named the Plurinational State of Bolivia. It is a landlocked country located in central South America. Bolivia is bordered by Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay to the southeast, Argentina to the south, Chile to the southwest, and Peru to the west. Bolivia is named after Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan leader in the Spanish-American wars of independence. The country's seat of government is La Paz, while Sucre is the constitutional capital.

Bolivia is a unitary multiparty republic with two legislative houses: the Chamber of Senators and the Chamber of Deputies. The country's population, estimated at 12 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Mestizos, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Jews, and other groups. Spanish is the official and predominant language, although 36 indigenous languages also have official status, including Guaraní, Aymara, and Quechua.

The name Bolivia was proposed by congressman Manuel Martín Cruz, who stated, "If from Romulus, Rome, then from Bolívar, Bolivia." The name was approved by the Republic on 3 October 1825. In 2009, a new constitution changed the country's official name to the Plurinational State of Bolivia to reflect the multi-ethnic nature of the country and the strengthened rights of Bolivia's indigenous peoples.

The region now known as Bolivia has been inhabited for over 2,500 years, with the arrival of the Aymara people. The country has a rich history and was once the center of the ancient Tiwanaku empire. Later, it became part of the Inca empire in the 15th century until the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. During the Spanish colonial period, Bolivia was a source of immense wealth for the Spanish Empire due to its silver mines.

Today, Bolivia is a developing country and the second-poorest in South America. However, it has made significant progress in reducing poverty rates and now has one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. The country is known for its diverse geography, ranging from the Andean mountains to the Amazonian lowlands, and its rich cultural heritage, with Spanish and indigenous traditions influencing various aspects of Bolivian life, such as language, cuisine, and art.

Indigenous Bolivians

Andean Indigenous Groups

The Andean Indigenous groups include the Aymara and Quechua peoples, which formed the ancient Inca Empire. They can be further divided into:

• Aymaras: They live on the high plateau of the departments of La Paz, Oruro, and Potosí, as well as some small regions near the tropical flatlands.
• Quechuas: They inhabit mostly the valleys of Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, and some mountain regions in Potosí and Oruro. They further divide themselves into Quechua nations, such as the Tarabucos, Ucumaris, Chalchas, Chaquies, and Yralipes.

Ethnic Groups of the Oriental Llanos

The ethnic groups of the oriental Llanos include:

• Guaraníes: Formed by Guarayos, Pausernas, Sirionos, Chiriguanos, Wichí, Chulipis, Tapietes, Tobas, and Yuquis.
• Tacanas: Formed by Tacanas, Lecos, Ese Ejas, Araonas, Reyesanos, and Maropas.
• Panos: Formed by Chacobos, Caripunas, Sinabos, Capuibos, and Guacanaguas.
• Aruacos: Formed by Apolistas, Baures, Moxos, Chané, Movimas, Cayabayas, Carabecas, and Paiconecas or Paucanacas.
• Chapacuras: Formed by Itenez or More, Chapacuras, Sansinonianos, Canichanas, Itonamas, Yuracares, Guatoses, and Chiquitos.
• Botocudos: Formed by Bororos and Otuquis.
• Zamucos: Formed by Ayoreos.

Lands and Rights

Lands collectively held by Indigenous Bolivians are called Native Community Lands or Tierras Comunitarias de Origen (TCOs). These lands encompass 11 million hectares and include communities such as Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park, Isiboro Sécure National Park, Pilón Lajas Biosphere Reserve, and the Yuki-Ichilo River Native Community Lands.

In 1991, Bolivia signed the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, a major binding international convention protecting indigenous rights. The Bolivian government has also passed laws recognizing and expanding Indigenous rights, such as the 1993 Law of Constitutional Reform, Law No. 3760 approving the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the 2010 Framework Law of Autonomies and Decentralization.

Mestizos

Bolivia is a multiethnic and multilingual society, with a majority of the population made up of indigenous peoples and Old World immigrants and their descendants. Bolivians do not equate their nationality with ethnicity but with citizenship and allegiance to Bolivia.

The indigenous peoples of Bolivia are divided into two ethnic groups: the Andeans, who inhabit the Andean Altiplano and the valley region, and the ethnic culture of the oriental Llanos region, who inhabit the warm regions of eastern Bolivia (Gran Chaco).

The Andean group includes the Aymaras and Quechuas (who formed the ancient Inca Empire), who are concentrated in the western departments of La Paz, Potosí, Oruro, Cochabamba, and Chuquisaca. The oriental group includes the Chiquitano, Guaraní, and Moxos, among others, who inhabit the departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Tarija, and Pando.

The mutual influence and interaction of cultures in Bolivia have resulted in modern Bolivian society becoming one of the prime examples of a melting pot, according to some anthropologists.

White or European Bolivians

White Bolivians are primarily found in the largest cities and major towns, such as Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba, and Tarija. They constitute the department with the highest density of European descendants, although not the greatest quantity.

In the 1900 census, White Bolivians made up 12.72% of the population, totalling 231,088 people. This was the last official census that collected data on racial origins. According to a 2014 Ipsos survey, only 3% of respondents identified as white.

Compared to the Indigenous population, a smaller proportion of White and Mestizo Bolivians live in poverty. The concept of race in Bolivia is fluid, and perceptions of race may be tied to socioeconomic status, with individuals potentially achieving "whitening" through economic advancement. Differences in language, educational status, and employment can also influence how individuals are racially perceived as "white", "mestizo", or "Indigenous".

Geographically, the white and mixed-race populations tend to be concentrated in the eastern lowlands of Bolivia, where they are relatively more affluent compared to the predominantly Indigenous regions.

Afro-Bolivians

The Afro-Bolivians are Bolivian 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, Julio Pinedo, who traces his lineage back to a line of monarchs that reigned in Africa during the medieval period.

After emancipation in 1827, the Afro-Bolivians relocated to the Yungas region, where they were employed on farms, cultivating coca leaves, coffee, and citrus fruits. They are usually distinguished from 'whites' and mestizos in economic rather than racial terms, and the majority tend to think of themselves as Bolivian rather than African.

The Afro-Bolivians have their own distinct culture, including music, dance, and language. The biggest African influence in Bolivian culture is Saya music or La Saya, which involves Andean instruments incorporated with African percussion. The primary instrument is the drum, which was passed on by their African ancestors, along with gourds, shakers, and even jingles bells that are attached to their clothing on the ankle area.

The Afro-Bolivians have also maintained their own creole language, with links to earlier Bozal Spanish. They have traditionally practised a mix of Roman Catholic and African diasporic religions, such as Macumba and Voodoo.

In recent years, there has been a revival of Afro-Bolivian culture, with the formation of groups such as the Movimiento Cultural Negro in 1994 and the Movimiento Saya Afro Boliviano, which aims to strengthen and promote the values and cultural identity of Afro-Bolivians.

Despite these efforts, many Afro-Bolivians have reported experiencing severe racism and feelings of isolation from society due to intolerance. However, steps have been taken by the government in recent years to improve the situation, including the passing of anti-discrimination laws and the recognition of Afro-Bolivians as a specific minority ethnic group in the 2009 Constitution.

Frequently asked questions