Jesús Guillermo Nogales Carvalho

San Ignacio de Moxos: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

San Ignacio de Moxos is one of the cultural references in the department of Beni, Bolivia and the world, its folkloric, musical, religious expressions and living culture, have been the subject of several studies, which have put in value the missionary heritage of the Ignatian people. 

The syncretism originated with what was introduced by the Jesuits in the XVII century and the autochthonous, resulted in unique manifestations that have been preserved with the passage of time, one of them and the most outstanding is its patronal feast or Ichapekene Piesta Inasianuana, which in Mojeño language means 'Fiesta Grande Ignaciana'.

The Ichapekene Piesta is celebrated on July 31, the day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. It is a celebration of religious origin, where the Mojeño indigenous people prepare in detail the activities to be carried out, in which most of the population participates.

The celebration begins days before the date, with the arrival of the Palo Ensebao, a tree that measures more than 15 meters high, which is selected and blessed in the mountain, to be later felled and taken to the town. During its entrance, it is accompanied by the different autochthonous musical groups and is deposited at the doors of the Cabildo Indigenal, to be carved, polished and ensebado.

On July 30, the Great Procession or “Paseo de la Santa Bandera” takes place, where the local dances are appreciated, demonstrating the syncretism between the autochthonous and the religious, an activity full of music and color, of the different costumes and masks of the dancers, among which stand out the Sun and the Moon, the Tigers, the Achus, Mamas and Macheteros.