Cumanana II- ENG

MAY 2021

NUMBER 2

Cumanana PERUVIAN CULTURE VIRTUAL BULLETIN FOR AFRICA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

FOREWORD Message from Alejandro Neyra, Minister of Culture

A LOOK TOWARDS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Peruvian presence in the continent

MUDEJAR ARCHITECTURE IN PERU North-African influence in Colonial Peru

RECIPE Peruvian flavours with African influences

PAGE 1

FOREWORD Peru is a multicultural country, proud of its diversity. One of the most representative factors within Peru’s cultural heritage and identity is the African component, which all Peruvians feel proud of. As Minister of Culture of Peru, I feel very happy to present the new edition of the Cumanana bulletin, which allows us to present the dialogue, diversity and common perspectives between Peru and Africa, through one of the most solid links we both share: culture.

Peru is committed to promoting intercultural citizenship. In this way, Peru guarantees and encourages the full exercise of all citizens’ cultural rights, including Afro-Peruvians. Due to this reason, along with our National Cultural Policy, efforts have been made to approve this year a new National Policy especially aimed at the Afro-Peruvian people.

To achieve this purpose, the Peruvian State focuses on the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as making a concrete contribution to the “International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024” established by the United Nations.

The Cumanana bulletin of the Ministry of Foreign Relations of Peru is an example of the efforts the Peruvian State has implemented. Therefore, I kindly invite you to read its content and share it with anyone interested in the Afro-Peruvian culture.

ALEJANDRO NEYRA MINISTER OF CULTURE OF PERU

PAGE 2

A LOOK TOWARDS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AMB. JORGE FÉLIX RUBIO CORREA AMBASSADOR OF PERU IN SOUTH AFRICA

The African continent has sustained an economic growth throughout the last 25 years. It was the global economic crisis, product of the current global pandemic, that caused its progress to stop in 2020, for the first time in a quarter of a century.

However, few doubt that once the pandemic is overcome, the continent will return to the path of growth due to its solid foundations. It has important natural resources and, even before the pandemic, a sustained growth of the middle classes and private consumption. More than 400 African companies account for more than 1 000 million dollars. Moreover, the continent is implementing an African Continental Free Trade Zone (AFCTA), which will generate more trade and investments in the region, creating a single continental market for goods and services, as well as free movement of people and investment.

On the other hand, the "World Population Prospects 2019" report, published by the United Nations, points out that, up to the year 2050, more than half of the global population growth will be registered in Africa. By the year 2100, 4.4 billion people will live in Africa, only surpassed

by Asia, where 4.9 billion people will reside.

In this context, it is no coincidence that the main world powers such as China, Russia, Japan, India, the United States and the European Union, develop various cooperation fora addressed to Africa, aimed at increasing their trade and influence in the region.

Peru and South Africa Peru established diplomatic relations with South Africa once the apartheid regime ended, achieving freedom and democracy. The Peruvian embassy officially opened on March 7, 1994.

Although Peru and South Africa are more than 10 000 km apart, and have developed quite different history and culture; they share many commonalities: both are multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, and mega-diverse countries, affected by climate change. The two are also considered mining countries, yet with great potential in agro-exports.

10th Peru-African Friendship Day, 2019 (C) Ministtry of Foreign Affairs

These affinities have led us to hold joint positions in various international fora, such as the United Nations.

Furthermore, this also motivates the development of shared affinities at the bilateral level, thus contributing to the exchange of expertise and the improvement of capabilities, aimed to apply that which can be adapted to each setting, favouring the development and well-being of our citizens.

In this regard, we highlight two strategies: developing ties between our societies, and between our governments. We consider that the most important thing regarding relations between two different countries is that their societies, in all their dimensions, know each other and advance their interrelation. A true bond between them is forged and consolidated when their peoples recognise, value, and respect one another. Hence, part of our approach is that of creating institutional links between our universities, as well as academic, cultural, sports, and business centres. Several of our projects have taken this line of action.

At the governmental level, the Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of Political Consultations, signed prior to the pandemic, was to take place, yet had to be postponed, along with the first visit of our Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs to Africa.

PAGE 4 Nonetheless, we have not stopped working on agreements in important cooperation matters in areas such as Antarctic and environment issues, judicial affairs, mining, tourism, natural disasters, arts, and culture. Though the forced quarantines and the harshness of the pandemic have affected the speed of the implementation process for each of these agreements; such difficulties have never impeded our decision to complete negotiations and execute them as soon as possible.

Peru in Sub-Saharan Africa Peru seeks to improve its position in the region. While holding two embassies in Sub-Saharan Africa: one in South Africa, concurrent in Mozambique, and another in Ghana, on the west coast of the continent, Peruvian presence in East Africa is being evaluated.

Alternatives in this area are being assessed in countries such as Kenya - headquarters to the UNDP, and formerly hosting a Peruvian embassy in the late 1980s – or Ethiopia, headquarters to the African Union. Moreover, particular attention is given to the addition of concurrences to the embassies in South Africa and Ghana, incorporating Nigeria, for instance, being one of the greater economies of Africa, alongside South Africa and Egypt.

These alternatives will support the development of a global vision for Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the meantime, Peruvian entrepreneurs have anticipated to this vision. Few know that Kitwe, Zambia is home to the largest Peruvian community in the African continent, whose members work in 14 Peruvian mineservicing companies of various sizes. Some companies aspire to expand to neighbouring countries, while more Peruvian firms plan to trade with Namibia.

On the other hand, over 250 Peruvian national belong to the United Nations Peacekeeping contingent in the Central African Republic, while other Peruvian consultants work in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Embassy in South Africa, through its consular section, provides services to all Peruvians in the region.

A country’s growth and development must be accompanied by a vigorous and adequate international projection. Peruvian companies have taken the first steps in Africa. Now, the Government must accompany this outline, and consolidate its presence in such an important region.

PAGE 4

MUDEJAR ARCHITECTURE IN PERU* ILANA LUCIA ALARCÓN PERUVIAN HISTORIAN, HER MAIN SUBJECTS OF RESEARCH INCLUDE COLONIAL SOCIAL HISTORY, GENDER, AND LITERATURE, MUDEJAR STUDIES, AND THE CULTURAL LEGACY OF ARABS IN HISPANO-AMERICA

The fruit of a long co-existence spanning over eight centuries with the Christian world (from the first AraboBerber settlement in 711 through the expulsion of the moriscos in 1609), the Muslim experience on the Iberian Peninsula left a deep imprint on the most vital aspects of mores and customs in the region—and, by extension, on Hispano-American (now Latin American) societies—An example of this is mudejar architecture. It was born in a context of political submission, at a time when Muslim art was forced to conform to the requirements of the dominant Christian society after the Spanish Re-conquest [of Spain] starting in the thirteenth century. Nevertheless, mudejar architecture conserved and constantly recreated the essential modes of Arab architecture: an art of seductive beauty which works to become an object of pleasure for the senses, and, at the same time, an architecture which shows a great degree of dynamism, given that it can satisfactorily resolve construction issues using easily obtained, highly malleable materials such as ceramics, plaster, and wood.

The use of wood as a building material (mainly walnut, ebony, and cypress) is one of the most notable elements of mudejar architecture in the Americas. Wooden roofs and ceiling decorations (alfajar paneled ceilings, latticed frame- work, and coffered ceilings) were incorporated into most of the churches built in Colonial Lima.

Particularly noteworthy examples of surviving mudejar ceilings include Santo Domingo Convent and Church, the oldest in Lima, the entrance- way of which is crowned by a beautiful sixteenth century mudejar ceiling, as well as the luxuriant Moorish cofferwork ceiling in the library.

Torre Tagle Palace main entrance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photography: : Daniel Giannoni

This is also the case of the Convent of San Francisco, considered to be one of the most beautiful in Lima, which has these motifs on the dome of the Convent staircase; and at the entrance, in which three mudejar curves may be observed; and in the church, in which the walls, support columns, and crypts are adorned with latticework chains; and in the cloister, bestowed with arches adorned with Moorish tiles and mudejar cofferwork.

PAGE 5 nineteenth century. The impression left from a distance by the towers and domes of the city, as well as the Moorish look of the houses, latticework, and the famous flying balconies of “streets in the air”, as the chronicler Calancha referred to them, the profusion of which gave the capital city a physical presence unmatched by other cities in the Americas Another typical characteristically Arabic flourish in these old mansions was the “Muslim” type of hallway running from the entryway door to the courtyard.

These, in addition to other elements characteristics of the views of Lima and specifically of Muslim houses, known as mucharabi, are also attested to in the drawings of German painter Johann Moritz Rugendas and, above all, in the delicate pencil sketches crafted by French diplomat Léonce Angrand both of whom visited what was then known as the “City of Kings” in the first decades of Peruvian independence. * Previously published in Chasqui, Peruvian Mail, Year 8, Number 17, December 2010 Torre Tagle Palace main yard, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photography: : Daniel Giannoni

One of the most noteworthy examples of Islamic woodworking are the closed, latticed balconies referred to in al-Ándalus as “ajimeces” (taken from the Arabic ashshamis: that which is exposed to the Sun), referring to their protective use against excessive levels of sunlight.

These so-called “box balconies” were also used in other cities, such as Cuzco and Trujillo, but only occasionally, to a much lesser degree than their propagation throughout Lima. Typical examples of these are the balconies of the Archbishop’s Palace and those of Torre Tagle Palace, home to the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign affairs, and a living sample of mudejar art and the Islamic woodworking technique known as mashrabiyya.

These interiors and this variety of wooden balconies jutting out and suspended above the facades of the streets of the city, in addition to the phenomenon of the “tapadas limeñas” or veiled women, gave a certain Arab feel to the streets of Lima and caught the attention of both foreigners and locals well into the

Detail of balcony latticework, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Photography: : Daniel Giannoni

PAGE 6

RECIPE: TACU TACU The humble origin of the tacu tacu is a clear demonstration of the inventiveness featured by Peruvians: when rice and beans are left over, they are enjoyed the next day as a hearty breakfast.

The expert Hirka Roca-Rey considers that this dish originated in the Afro-Peruvian community, where ground chili pepper and onion were added to rice and beans until a dough was obtained and then fried in butter.

Additionally, John Santa Cruz refers to the varieties of this concept and its origin in the African diaspora: “Gallopinto in Nicaragua, Arroz Moro in the Dominican Republic, Congrí in Cuba and Casamiento in El Salvador; the Brazilian feijoada and the Hoppin John from southern United States. All of them based on rice and beans”.

Even so, its etymology has not been confirmed: “tacuni” is a Quechua word that means “to mix one thing with another”, while other versions consider that the name of the dish comes from the Swahili word Taka-ZaChakula, which means "leftover food."

INGREDIENTS 3 cups of beans 120 gr bacon, minced 2 tbsp garlic paste 1/4 cup yellow aji paste 1/2 tbsp dried oregano 4 cups cooked rice 6 bananas 6 fried eggs Oil as needed salt and pepper

PREPARATION A day before, soak the beans in a container with cold water. Drain them and, along with the bacon, cover with water. Bring to medium heat and cook for an hour. Stir with a wooden spoon and remove from the heat. Let cool.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat, and brown the onion, garlic and yellow ají for 10 minutes. Season with the oregano, salt and pepper.

Mix. Add the beans, stir and remove from the heat. Add the rice and mix. In a skillet, over medium heat, add the rest of the oil. Add two cups of the mixture and brown for eight minutes. Flip and cook for five more minutes. Remove from the skillet and repeat the same process for six servings. Serve tacu tacu with the fried bananas and fried eggs.