Abstract

SILVERA LA TORRE, Hernán  and  FERNANDEZ FABIAN, Liliana. Cultural Identity of Acorian Migrants in Lima through the Dance Los negritos de Acoria. Antipod. Rev. Antropol. Arqueol. [online]. 2024, n.54, pp.87-109.  Epub Feb 19, 2024. ISSN 1900-5407.  https://doi.org/10.7440/antipoda54.2024.04.

Cultural identity in the context of migration is shaped by the gathering of migrants in so-called provincial clubs that have formed in Lima. In these spaces, Acorian migrants recreate festivities and expressions such as the dance Los negritos, which brings families together with the winning troupe from the celebration held in Acoria (Huancavelica, Peru). This festive moment is loaded with symbols that recognize the identity of Acorian residents in Lima, based on a sense of belonging that encompasses the community from the diaspora to the dance itself, sustaining the memory and identity of the Acorians. This qualitative, ethnographically designed article analyzes the relationship between these significant elements of Acorian identity among migrants in Lima. In-depth interviews were conducted with nine Acorians residing in the capital (during the months of September and October 2022), some involved in organizing the festival, others recurring participants in club activities. The research results are based on these interviews. It is concluded that social, familial networks generate the sense of identity in migratory processes, and cultural expressions such as dance contribute to the consolidation of cultural identity by recognizing its social and cultural value, making it representative of a people. In sum, this article captures the voices of Acorian migrants who value their origin and find in dance a symbol of unity between residents in Lima and those in Acoria. This supports the sense of belonging and strengthens the group that constructs its identity by recognizing itself as migrants. Thus, the article contributes to discussions on the reconstruction of identity in a context of migration.

Keywords : Acoria; cultural associations; cultural identity; dance Los negritos de Acoria; migration.

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