In southeastern Mexico, facing the Pacific, the state of Oaxaca is located. Which has gained much more popularity in recent years attracting both national and international tourism, Oaxaca is not only an excellent representation of how rooted the Mexican is to its traditions, but also, it is a state full of culture that is willing to share with the world. This is how La Guelaguetza was born, the most important multicultural festival in Oaxaca.
Photograph by José Castillo
The term Guelaguetza is derived from the Zapotec word "guendalezaa" which means offering, present or fulfillment. Its origin dates back to indigenous manners and has become a key event for the preservation of Oaxacan culture.
The festival brings together communities from different regions of Oaxaca, which present dances, music, clothing and typical cuisine of their villages. And a showcase of the cultural richness and ethnic diversity of the region is celebrated.
The Guelaguetza is not only a cultural celebration, but also works as a space of resistance to modernization and gentrification, strengthening the identity and social cohesion of the communities. It is a moment of pride and unity that reflects the richness of Oaxacan cultural heritage and its connection to its indigenous roots.
Photograph by Israel Torres
How can the preservation of a tradition be subversive?
- Strengthening collective identity: the preservation of traditions helps to build a sense of belonging and cohesion within communities. This can be subversive when challenging narratives that attempt to erase or minimize the importance of local identities in favor of a national or global identity.
- Cultural activism: the preservation of traditions can become an act of activism. Communities fighting for their rights can use their cultural practices as a tool for visibility and complaint, taking advantage of festivities, dances or rituals to communicate their resistance and claim for recognition.
- Reinvention and adaptation: traditions are not static, they can be embraced and reinvented in contemporary contexts. This process of reinterpretation can result in new ways of expression that reflect current realities, allowing communities to navigate between the traditional and the modern in subversive ways.
- Community strengthening: the holiday fosters union between local communities, creating ties between different villages and regions. This social cohesion is essential to resist external pressures that seek to transform urban and cultural space for the benefit of outside interests.
Photograph by Alex Salazar
La Guelaguetza, like so many of the traditions that are kept alive in Latin America, are not only a celebration of cultural diversity, but also a powerful tool of resistance that helps communities face and adapt to the challenges presented by modernization.
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