Los mojarras
Encyclopedia
Los Mojarras are a band from the province of El Agustino
Lima
Peru
that formed in 1992. They released their first album in 1994, titled Sarita Colonia, and are still currently producing music and performing. Link label They have been politically active through their music, voicing political realities and views.
Their music is referred to as Peruvian rock
, however Luis A. Ramos-Garcia, a professor and researcher of Latin American theater and popular music from the University of Minnesota
, describes their music as a “mixture of Chicha or Peruvian cumbia
, Andean Cumbia, and Afro-Peruvian styling’s”.
Their style of music also includes blends of rock music. Critically analyzed, the music of Los Mojarras, can be thought of as a form of transculturation
, in which the emergence of mixed cultures are expressed through the mixture of musical rhythms. This type of music can also be described a form of cultural hybridity
, in which the music and its scene has become a new cultural production raised out of multiple existing cultures or shared meanings.
As Jesus-Martin Barbero, a researcher and philosopher, who’s disciplined in Cultural Studies
; has stated “music is the result of mestizaje, the profane deformation of an authentic form.” Link label
Appropriated in musical terms, mestizaje can refer to the mixtures of different music produced as a response to the formations of new social identities; and in the search of belonging by new generations of Andean migrants in capital cities. This mixture of music has primarily been played by the “decedents of migrant Andeans, who grew up and/or were born in major cities such as Lima, in Peru”.
These migrants come from rural areas in Peru, moving to modernized cities often forced because of economic circumstances, exemplifying a form of local diasporic mobility. Los Mojarras lyrics range from the issues of societal displacement
, dislocation
of Andean migrants in major cities and working class migrant experiences and issues.
Their music genre became recognized as a form of “new musical subjectivity by marginalized Urban-Andeans”, that were expressing for the first time, within chicha music that has primarily been about love or romance; anger, agency, political issues and concerns.
Los Mojarras created a space for people living within the marginalized sectors of Peru.
These artists also brought “ attention to the problems situated within the hegemonic Creole-Spanish model maintained by privileged classes”, and narrating through music the conflicts between Limeños and Andean migrants, that arise within the city of Lima.
that was created through the migration
of Andean migrants to Lima, Peru. Through both its lyrics and the imagery portrayed in the music video we can see the representations of cultural hybridity, as well as societal displacement
and dislocation
previously mentioned.
Music Video: Link label
There is a reoccurring image of an indigenous man, dressed as the Europe
an representation of Jesus Christ on the crucifix recognizing or reminding the colonization of the Americas
through the introduction of Catholicism
and its resulting mestizaje.
The cross in which he is attached to, is actually a telephone pole and it is located at the edge of the city looking on as if observing what has happened to both his people and his new home. This can be representative of the re-colonization of indigenous people by the modern societal expectations that follow a Creole
-Spanish model that excludes much of the culture of Andean migrants.
The video also demonstrates cultural hybridity in the different types of clothing worn by the Andean people in the city, who are wearing modern or contemporary clothing and more traditional indigenous clothing. This shows how, even though the diaspora
of the indigenous Andeans are now living in a different environment than their native one and they have adopted many of the hegemonic customs such as more modern fashions, they still pay homage to their roots.
An example would be the way they still wear guaraches with contemporary styles of clothing, representing how they are still grounded in their culture and history.
The Andean migrants living in Lima have formed a hybrid identity where they are a part of both the city and the rural “province” and a part of neither at the same time; demonstrating a mestiza consciousness.
Ahi se va una generacion de pueblos de migrantes /
Que vivieron un mundo diferente/
A las de sus padres a la de nuestros abuelos /
Asistieron a colegios con gente de ciudad/
Fusionando sus costumbres
Link label
The lyrics of the song mention the process of how Andino migrants through generations of migration adaptation have established a sense of identity, but still struggles in maintaining a sense of belonging. The first verse of the song reveals the displacement through their migrant experiences. People had to leave the more rural areas and move to the city to be able to survive, get an education and find economic opportunities.
)
Oscar Rivera (Bass
)
Daniel Farfan (Lead Guitar
)
Felix Sanchez (Drums)
Raul Molina (Keyboards)
Jorge Bravo (Percussion)
Ruidos en la Ciudad (1994)
Opera Salvaje Para Tribus Urabanas (1995)
Todos Contra la Pared en Vivo (1998)
Tour Perrada (1998)
El Agustino
El Agustino is a district of the Lima Province in Peru. It is part of city of Lima.Officially established as a district on January 6, 1965, the current mayor of El Agustino is Víctor Modesto Salcedo Ríos. The district's postal code is 10....
Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
that formed in 1992. They released their first album in 1994, titled Sarita Colonia, and are still currently producing music and performing. Link label They have been politically active through their music, voicing political realities and views.
Their music is referred to as Peruvian rock
Peruvian rock
Rock entered the Peruvian scene in the late-1950s, through listening to performers like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Bill Haley, who popularized rockabilly in the United States. The first Peruvian rock bands appeared during this time...
, however Luis A. Ramos-Garcia, a professor and researcher of Latin American theater and popular music from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, describes their music as a “mixture of Chicha or Peruvian cumbia
Peruvian cumbia
Peruvian cumbia or Chicha is a subgenre of Cumbia that became popular in the coastal cities of Peru, mainly in Lima in the 1960s through the fusion of local versions of the original Colombian genre, traditional highland huayno, and rock music, particularly Surf rock...
, Andean Cumbia, and Afro-Peruvian styling’s”.
Their style of music also includes blends of rock music. Critically analyzed, the music of Los Mojarras, can be thought of as a form of transculturation
Transculturation
Transculturation is a term coined by Cuban anthropologist Fernando Ortiz in 1940 to describe the phenomenon of merging and converging cultures....
, in which the emergence of mixed cultures are expressed through the mixture of musical rhythms. This type of music can also be described a form of cultural hybridity
Hybridity
Hybridity refers in its most basic sense to mixture. The term originates from biology and was subsequently employed in linguistics and in racial theory in the nineteenth century. Its contemporary uses are scattered across numerous academic disciplines and is salient in popular culture...
, in which the music and its scene has become a new cultural production raised out of multiple existing cultures or shared meanings.
As Jesus-Martin Barbero, a researcher and philosopher, who’s disciplined in Cultural Studies
Cultural studies
Cultural studies is an academic field grounded in critical theory and literary criticism. It generally concerns the political nature of contemporary culture, as well as its historical foundations, conflicts, and defining traits. It is, to this extent, largely distinguished from cultural...
; has stated “music is the result of mestizaje, the profane deformation of an authentic form.” Link label
Appropriated in musical terms, mestizaje can refer to the mixtures of different music produced as a response to the formations of new social identities; and in the search of belonging by new generations of Andean migrants in capital cities. This mixture of music has primarily been played by the “decedents of migrant Andeans, who grew up and/or were born in major cities such as Lima, in Peru”.
These migrants come from rural areas in Peru, moving to modernized cities often forced because of economic circumstances, exemplifying a form of local diasporic mobility. Los Mojarras lyrics range from the issues of societal displacement
Forced migration
Forced migration refers to the coerced movement of a person or persons away from their home or home region...
, dislocation
Dislocation
In materials science, a dislocation is a crystallographic defect, or irregularity, within a crystal structure. The presence of dislocations strongly influences many of the properties of materials...
of Andean migrants in major cities and working class migrant experiences and issues.
Their music genre became recognized as a form of “new musical subjectivity by marginalized Urban-Andeans”, that were expressing for the first time, within chicha music that has primarily been about love or romance; anger, agency, political issues and concerns.
Los Mojarras created a space for people living within the marginalized sectors of Peru.
These artists also brought “ attention to the problems situated within the hegemonic Creole-Spanish model maintained by privileged classes”, and narrating through music the conflicts between Limeños and Andean migrants, that arise within the city of Lima.
Nostalgia Provinciana
The song “Nostalgia Provinciana” gives a perfect example of the cultural hybridityHybridity
Hybridity refers in its most basic sense to mixture. The term originates from biology and was subsequently employed in linguistics and in racial theory in the nineteenth century. Its contemporary uses are scattered across numerous academic disciplines and is salient in popular culture...
that was created through the migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
of Andean migrants to Lima, Peru. Through both its lyrics and the imagery portrayed in the music video we can see the representations of cultural hybridity, as well as societal displacement
Forced migration
Forced migration refers to the coerced movement of a person or persons away from their home or home region...
and dislocation
Dislocation
In materials science, a dislocation is a crystallographic defect, or irregularity, within a crystal structure. The presence of dislocations strongly influences many of the properties of materials...
previously mentioned.
Music Video: Link label
There is a reoccurring image of an indigenous man, dressed as the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an representation of Jesus Christ on the crucifix recognizing or reminding the colonization of the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
through the introduction of Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
and its resulting mestizaje.
The cross in which he is attached to, is actually a telephone pole and it is located at the edge of the city looking on as if observing what has happened to both his people and his new home. This can be representative of the re-colonization of indigenous people by the modern societal expectations that follow a Creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
-Spanish model that excludes much of the culture of Andean migrants.
The video also demonstrates cultural hybridity in the different types of clothing worn by the Andean people in the city, who are wearing modern or contemporary clothing and more traditional indigenous clothing. This shows how, even though the diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
of the indigenous Andeans are now living in a different environment than their native one and they have adopted many of the hegemonic customs such as more modern fashions, they still pay homage to their roots.
An example would be the way they still wear guaraches with contemporary styles of clothing, representing how they are still grounded in their culture and history.
The Andean migrants living in Lima have formed a hybrid identity where they are a part of both the city and the rural “province” and a part of neither at the same time; demonstrating a mestiza consciousness.
Ahi se va una generacion de pueblos de migrantes /
Que vivieron un mundo diferente/
A las de sus padres a la de nuestros abuelos /
Asistieron a colegios con gente de ciudad/
Fusionando sus costumbres
Link label
The lyrics of the song mention the process of how Andino migrants through generations of migration adaptation have established a sense of identity, but still struggles in maintaining a sense of belonging. The first verse of the song reveals the displacement through their migrant experiences. People had to leave the more rural areas and move to the city to be able to survive, get an education and find economic opportunities.
Band Members
Cachuca (Vocals, GuitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
)
Oscar Rivera (Bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
)
Daniel Farfan (Lead Guitar
Lead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
)
Felix Sanchez (Drums)
Raul Molina (Keyboards)
Jorge Bravo (Percussion)
Discography
Sarita Colonia (1994)Ruidos en la Ciudad (1994)
Opera Salvaje Para Tribus Urabanas (1995)
Todos Contra la Pared en Vivo (1998)
Tour Perrada (1998)