Luzmila Carpio

Luzmila Carpio (* 1954 in Qala-Qala, Potosí Department ) is an indigenous Bolivian singer.

Luzmila Carpio was born in a Quechua community in the north of the Bolivian department of Potosí and learned the indigenous or Quechua -language music of their surroundings as a child . She grew up with the traditional Andean culture, which included a strong bond with nature and the worship of Mother Earth ( Pachamama ).

As a teenager she moved to Oruro , where she lived as a singer. On a radio station she sang the national anthem of Bolivia , the only Spanish-language song she knew. Because of her skills, she was accepted as the lead singer in a band that took part in a music competition in Cochabamba and made Luzmila widely known. The piece Siway Azucena , composed by her in the traditional Andean style, became popular all over Bolivia and thus helped her breakthrough.

Contrary to the prevailing trend towards a Europeanization of culture, Luzmila Carpio decided to use her songs to spread the indigenous culture of the Andes . This included the fact that, after she had sung mainly in Spanish for a time, she sang again mainly in her native Quechua , sometimes also in Aymara . With the decision against the trend, she consciously accepted the risk of lower income. Their music has thus also become a symbol of the cultural self-confidence of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. In this context, she wrote or edited several children's songs, including z. B. Ima sarata munanki 'What kind of corn do you want?', Aylluman kutiripuna 'Return to the village community'. These songs are popular with the children in rural schools in Bolivia.

With her concerts in Europe and CDs, Luzmila Carpio has meanwhile also enjoyed international success.

On April 21, 2006, Luzmila Carpio was appointed Bolivian Ambassador to Paris by President Evo Morales .

Web links

• Former official website ( Memento of March 18, 2011 in the Internet Archive )