Jesús Guillermo Nogales Carvalho
San Ignacio de Moxos: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
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.
The 31st is the procession of the patron saint, celebrated with a mass or Te-Deum, where the parishioners accompany the image of San Ignacio, manifesting their devotion and religiosity, with music and dance. The following day, the Palo Ensebao is placed or planted in a square where, together with the bullfighting, it is one of the most popular attractions for the population, being this the activity with which the celebration ends.
During the festive days, musical concerts are also performed, among which the Moxos Ensamble stands out, with a repertoire of baroque music, interpreted in native language and native instruments, such as the bajones, thanks to the rescue of scores from the XVIII century that are stored in the Moxos Missionary Archive.
The Ichapekene Piesta Inasianuana has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012, witnessing it is one of the commemorative experiences for visitors, it is a mixture of religiosity, living culture and tradition, an opportunity to meet and share with the Mojeño people, who have kept alive the customs inherited from the ancient Jesuit mission, which are expressed today.
The authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of the facts contained in this document and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of Tourism and Society Think Tank and do not commit the Organization, and should not be attributed to TSTT or its members.
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