Quechua & Spanish - Araceli Poma

QUECHUA

POMA

“Mamá Nieves, my paternal grandmother born in Huancavelica, Peru, is a Quechua speaker. She grew up facing discrimination from society for speaking her indigenous language. That’s why I sing in Quechua: to reclaim the indigenous language of millions of people who, like my grandmother, have been silenced and marginalized. My music is an act of resistance and pride, a way to restore power to our roots and ensure that the voices of our ancestral cultures are heard and respected on the global stage.”

Araceli Poma

QUECHUA

Quechua, also known as ‘Runa simi,’ is the most widely spoken native language in South America and is used in various regions of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina.

In Peru, Quechua is among the 48 existing native languages.

Araceli Poma comes from a Quechua-speaking family. Although her paternal grandmother learned Quechua in the village, her parents chose not to teach it at home, fearing that their children would face discrimination in the future. Unfortunately, Nieves, Araceli’s grandmother, also adopted this perspective and did not pass on Quechua to her children. Over time, many indigenous languages have been lost.

Fortunately, Araceli grew up listening to lullabies in Quechua from her grandmother. Through music, many people are reconnecting with the language to prevent its disappearance.

Proud of her roots, Araceli feels the responsibility to spread the ancestral language of her grandparents through her music. In New York, she strives to promote and preserve Quechua, connecting with various communities that speak this language in Latin America. Araceli is involved in projects aimed at preserving indigenous languages, especially Quechua, through the dissemination of her music and connecting with communities that share this cultural heritage.

This work is urgent and necessary. Preserving indigenous languages is a valuable contribution to cultural diversity and the enrichment of the linguistic heritage of our current societies.