El Güegüense

El Güegüense (also known as Macho Ratón) is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of post-columbian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater. [ [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-150984344.html Nicaragua's First Cultural Series to Debut in South Florida ] ] There was also a monument built in the center of a rotonda "(roundabout)" in Managua, in its honor. [ [http://www.manfut.org/monumentos/gueguense.html Rotonda El Guegüense ] ] El Güegüense is performed during the feast of San Sebastián in Diriamba (Carazo department) from January 17 to the 27th.

Origin

The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest indigenous theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere. [ [http://www.nmai.si.edu/calendar/index.asp?month=10&year=2006&day=22 Event Calendar | National Museum of the American Indian ] ] It was passed down orally for many centuries until it was finally written down and published into a book in 1942. [http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/21-el-gueguense-macho-raton.html El Güegüense o Macho Ratón ] ] According to the first written version the plot has 314 lines and was originally written in both Nahuatl and Spanish

Etymology

The name of the play comes from its main character, "El Güegüense", which is derived from the Nahuatl word "huehue", meaning "old man" or "wise man".

History

"El Güegüense" represents folklore of Nicaragua, therefore, UNESCO proclaimed it a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in 2005 making Nicaragua the only country in Central America and one of six in Latin America to have 2 proclaimed masterpieces by UNESCO. [ [http://www.unesco.org/culture/intangible-heritage/masterpiece.php?id=119&lg=en List of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity ] ]

Characters

The play includes 14 characters, the three mestizos:
*Güegüense (and his sons)
**Don Forcico
**Don Ambrosio The Spanish authorities:
*Governor Tastuanes
*Captain Alguacil Mayor
*the Royal Clerk
*the Royal Assistant; The women:
*Doña Suche Malinche - (along with two ladies that accompany her)
*Macho-moto, Macho-viejo, Macho-mohino, and Macho-guajaqueño (the four beasts of burden; referred to as "‘machos’")

ocial controversy

Because deception for monetary gain is central to the plot of "El Güegüense", the play frequently is cited by newspaper editorials as a kind of symbolic archetype for perceived corrupt politicians or unaccountable public institutions. [cite news | last = Martinez | first = Edgard | coauthors = | title = Si te vi, ya no me acuerdo | work = | pages = | language = Spanish | publisher = Bolsa de Noticias | date = 2006-03-22 | url = http://www.grupoese.com.ni/2006/mar/22/edagard.htm | accessdate = 2007-07-13 ] Unpredictable election returns also have been attributed to the heritage of the masked "El Güegüense" figure reflected in an electorate skilled at masking their true voting intent, notably so with the FSLN party's crushing, unanticipated defeat at the polls in 1990. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = "Hay que sacar del poder al Güegüence" | work = | pages = | language = Spanish | publisher = El Nuevo Diario | date = 2007-04-02 | url = http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/imprimir/2007-04-02/45351 | accessdate = 2007-07-13 ] While the role of "El Güegüense" as the highest expression of Nicaraguan folkloric art is secure, the overt theme of the play -entry into the aristocratic lifestyle through deceptive means- is frequently held at arm's length in political speeches as contrary to the current vision of national growth occurring through hard work, economic diversification, and manufacturing exports . [cite news | last = Vukelich | first = Donna | coauthors = | title = "Bienvenidas a la Zona Franca" | work = | pages = | language = Spanish | publisher = Revista Envio Digital | date = | url = http://www.envio.org.ni/articulo/824 | accessdate = 2007-07-13 ]

ee also

*Culture of Nicaragua

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbCdkoRrjgc Video of El Güegüense] dance show in Masaya
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFR5jHO2DMU Video of El Güegüense] in the Managua parade
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg03gJef500 Video of El Güegüense] show
* [http://www.diriamba.info www.diriamba.info]