The Chota Valley |
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Located on the limit of the Carchi and Imbabura Province, at 35 km from Ibarra and 89km from Tulcán, access to the Chota Valley proves easy along the Panamerican Highway. Located 1560 metres above sea level this valley enjoys an average temperature of 24oC.
The black indigenous community that inhabits the Chota Valley arrived in Ecuador in the 17th Century, brought by the Jesuits and mercenaries to work as slaves in the mines and sugar cane plantations. During the colonial times, this valley and that of nearby Salinas, were known by the name ‘Coangue’ (originally meaning hot valley) due to the extreme dry climates experienced in the area. The Jesuits took these lands and established themselves here in 1659.
During these times, this region was an unhealthy place to be, full of malaria and malign fevers. The myth of the ‘trapiches’ (sugarcane mills) weakened the local indigenous people. They were substituted by black slaves, the origin of the actual indigenous black population.
Many outstanding national and international athletes have originated from this small Ecuadorian valley. The people here, who are dedicated to agriculture, are also well known for their musical and dancing skills – especially for their ‘bomba’ music, drum playing and other rudimentary instruments. To find out more about this culture you can visit the Honka Monka museum.
During village celebrations, the local people improvise songs and verses known as the ‘bomba’. For the black indigenous population the “bomba” is something that is part of the person, something that comes from deep inside, and is accompanied by the beating of a goat skin drum. These ‘bombas’ are traditionally sung and danced during family gatherings as well as at local celebrations such as Christmas Eve. On these occasions the men and women challenge each other dancing with bottles balanced on their heads, the pleated skirts and bright colourful blouses form a wonderful scene filled with colourful and rhythmic joy. The lyrics of this contagious music are inspired by things such as rivers, women, lovers and fruits.
The ‘bomba’ is a great show of dance, poetry, music and black community tradition in the Chota Valley. This rhythm is the channel through which the musicians and dancers express their particular experiences as well as their social reality. Through the years from the age of slavery these people have found their source of inspiration and enjoyment in the lost traditions of Africa. The word ‘bomba’ has multiple meanings, since it is the name of the main instrument used in the making of this music, the dance and the written chants by the popular poets. |