THE QUECHUA INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE ANDES

Welcome to MEXICO AND BEYOND: LAURA’S PHOTO JOURNEY. I have chosen the Quechua culture to be the first of my blog postings on the indigenous peoples of Latin America. This choice is no doubt inspired by my fond memories of visiting Machu Picchu, Cusco, and the Urubamba Valley of Peru and the Otavalo region of Ecuador many moons ago. I look forward to your company so let’s meet the Quechua.

A few introductory Quechua basics:
PRONUNCIATION: KECH-wah
LOCATION: Peru; Ecuador; Bolivia (Central Andes regions)
POPULATION: Approximately 7.5 million
LANGUAGE: Quechua language
RELIGION: Combination of Pre-Columbian and Roman Catholic beliefs


The Quechua Indians of the central Andes are the direct descendants of the Incas. The Inca Empire which existed for a century before the arrival of the Spanish was a highly developed civilization. The Inca Empire stretched from parts of present-day Colombia in the north to Chile in the south.


Peru attained independence from the Spanish in 1821 and most Quechua still live in the Andean highlands. They rely on subsistence agriculture growing little more than their own food and nomadic herding much as did their Inca ancestors.

About one-third of Peru's 24.5 million inhabitants are Quechua Indians. Migration and urbanization in the past few decades have drawn many Quechua to Lima which is the capital of Peru and there is now a large indigenous and mestizo (mixed-race) population in Lima.

Most Quechua rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood. Corn, potatoes, and grains are crops that have adapted to the high-altitude environment and are the two of the main staples of the Quechua diet.


Land is still farmed using the Inca method of terracing on steep slopes. This labor-intensive approach to agriculture requires a tremendous amount of time. Common dishes include meat or potato stews, spiced with hot peppers, coriander, or peanuts. Considered a delicacy, guinea pig is an important source of protein for the Quechua which predates the Incas.

The Quechua language with 25 million speakers is spoken in ten countries in Latin America and is an official language in three of them. Quechua was also once the language of the great Inca Empire. Many of the ancient Quechua myths are still preserved in their oral tradition. Most of them narrate the origin of various ethnic groups and tales of the mountains, rivers, and lakes.

Quechua religion combines both Pre-Columbian and Catholic elements. The most significant Pre-Columbian influence that endures is the belief that supernatural forces govern everyday events such as weather and illness. This belief serves a utilitarian purpose to the agricultural Quechua.


By making offerings to the powers that control natural forces, the Quechua feel they can influence events and not merely be helpless in the face of bad weather or disease. When drinking alcohol, for example, it is customary to first offer a drink to Mother Earth Pachamama.

The Quechua celebrate important Catholic holidays such as Christmas and Easter. But at the same time they have not abandoned their ancient holidays. In the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco (also spelled Cusco) the Inca Sun Festival is still celebrated.


Donning replicas of Inca tunics, rather than contemporary Andean garb, Quechua Indians reenact the Inca sun-worshiping ceremony. The Inti Raymi festival, which celebrates the June solstice, reflects the Inca's vast knowledge of astronomy. On this occasion, there is much eating, drinking, and dancing. True to Inca traditions, a llama is also sacrificed on this day.

Major life transitions, such as birth, puberty, and death are marked by rituals and celebrations that combine Catholic and indigenous traditions. Courtship and marriage involve a lengthy series of rituals and stages. At the wedding there is a public procession as the bride leaves her home to join her husband's community. Various other rituals, including fertility rites, follow the wedding.

Children in Quechua society play many important roles. From a very young age they participate in economic activities and key household tasks. As in most other subsistence economies, children are essential as they are expected to provide long-term economic security to their parents as they age.

Women play a subordinate role to men in the community political structure. Women are less likely to receive a formal education, do not hold significant positions of power within the community, and are excluded from many potentially profitable economic activities. A clear sexual division of labor exists with regard to both agricultural and household tasks.

Traditional Andean clothing reflects Spanish influences. In 1572 the Spanish prohibited the Quechua from wearing native Inca tunics and wrap-around dresses. Andean peoples then adopted the clothing still in use today. Quechua women wear skirts and blouses with colorful woven shawls around their shoulders. Men wear trousers, shirts, and woven ponchos (capes). Sandals are the preferred footwear for both men and women.

The style and color of clothing worn by Quechua Indians varies dramatically from region to region. The Otavalo of Ecuador, an important subgroup of the Quechua, have a very distinctive dress. They wear white trousers and shirts, covered by a solid black poncho. Otavalo men are also famed for their long black braids.

Formal education in Peru is required until the age of sixteen. In rural areas, however, the percentage of students who finish their schooling is much lower than in urban areas. This is in part because children play a valuable role in household and agricultural work and often their labor cannot be spared.

The characteristic music of the central Andes is called huayno which recounts daily life in mountain villages and proclaims Andean nationalism (patriotism). Traditional instruments which are still used include drums, flutes, and the charango, a mandolin-style guitar made from an armadillo shell.

Huayno singers are increasingly popular in urban areas. Quechua folk music also includes beautifully haunting music for panpipes (hollow pipes of graduated length). One of these songs, "El Condor Pasa," was a hit record for the American singing duo Simon and Garfunkel in the 1960s which I remember well!

As the Incas did not write there is not a tradition of Quechua literature. In the twentieth century Peru, however, there has emerged a tradition of writers who focus on the life of the indigenous Andean peoples. Jose Maria Arguedas, Cesar Vallejo, and Ciro Alegria have written influential books that portray the oppression of the Quechua throughout the centuries and chronicle their hard life in the Andes. These authors have contributed to a growing Andean nationalism and pride.

The most significant handicraft produced by the Quechua is textiles. Women throughout the Andes can be seen spinning wool most of the day even while sitting at the market or waiting for a bus. Both llama and sheep wool are used. The "belt loom" is still in use by the Quechua and predates contact with Europeans. The Quechua are very skilled weavers and their products are increasingly in demand for the tourist and export market.

I have very much enjoyed sharing the Quechua indigenous people of the Andes region with you and I am looking forward to sharing more indigenous cultures of Latin America in future blog posts. So until then from Otavalo, Ecuador my thanks and best wishes to you wherever your adventures and travels may take you! Saludos,  Laura