Otavalo, Ekvador 🇪🇨

Language of the Incas and one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in South America, Quechua is the greatest living legacy of Ancient Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and south of Colombia. Today, many of his words are still used; They have even adapted to the Spanish language. Terms such as court, tent, pucho or poncho are part of the Quechua vocabulary, however, they are also widely used by people who have Spanish as their mother tongue.

With more than 10 million Quechua speakers in Peru, Ecuador,Bolivia and south Colombia, this language is one of the most valuable contributions to the country. Although it has been regressing, nowadays the local authorities are developing intercultural bilingual education programs to promote its value. Next, learn more about the origins, present and importance of the sacred language of the Incas.
How did weaving earn a central place in the lives of the Quechua people? Well, the native language of the indigenous groups is the Quechua language. Like so many other languages, it was originally an oral language. To preserve their language, the natives had to come up with a method that would help to pass the language to the other communities and to the coming generations. This was achieved through weaving. So, weaving became an embodiment of all the stories, myths, legends, knowledge and ideas that make up the Quechua culture and language. The patterns and designs aren’t just randomly woven- they communicate stories that hold a lot of cultural value to the natives. An artist conveys a story through pictures and painting. A writer uses words to convey the same thing. Enslaved African-Americans used hairstyles to communicate with each other. Ancient cavemen recorded their surroundings through cave paintings. Just like these, the Quechua people use weaving to communicate a story. It can be said that by weaving to preserve their past, the Quechua people are also weaving their present and future.
Weaving has been an important part of the Quechua people for centuries, handed down from the Inca Empire. In fact, it has been in practice since 2500 BCE, shaping the Quechua people’s culture, identity and communication. Some of the ethnic groups have developed, over the years, their own exclusive symbols and patterns. Some of the elders in the groups claim that without weaving, they would have no identity to speak of. The colours, designs and style of dress distinguish the natives according to their ethnicity and location.

From the vibrant colours to the woven symbols, the tiniest detail of the woven item is loaded with meaning. It also houses a wealth of ancient traditional knowledge- techniques of weaving, the plants used for dyeing, how, where and when to grow them. Children as young as seven or eight years old are taught to weave. The elders secure the future of their culture by teaching the younger generation the importance of their past.

Видео Otavalo, Ekvador 🇪🇨 канала TARDY TRAVEL