La Pinta, la Niña y la Santa María

Jesús Fichamba's song 'La Pinta, la Niña y la Santa María' is a rich tapestry of historical reflection and indigenous perspective woven into a dreamlike narrative. The song's title references the three ships used by Christopher Columbus on his voyage to the New World, which marked the beginning of a significant era in human history, but also the start of a dark period for the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Fichamba, an Ecuadorian artist known for his Andean music style, uses this historical backdrop to explore themes of conquest, hope, and the resilience of the native people.

The lyrics begin with the narrator dreaming of an old sailor, a likely metaphor for Columbus himself, who sells dreams and charts the course of a wandering bird. This imagery evokes the sense of adventure and the unknown that surrounded the Age of Discovery. The song then shifts to the dreams of grandeur and distant empires, contrasting with the indomitable spirit of the narrator's race, suggesting the indigenous people's resistance to subjugation. The dreamlike quality of the song allows for a reflection on the past that is both critical and introspective.

The chorus of the song, with its repeated lines about the roundness of dreams and the vast sea, symbolizes the unending quest for discovery and the promise of new lands. The description of the new land as a woman with volcanic breasts could be interpreted as a metaphor for the fertile and untamed nature of the Americas. The song also touches on the pain of colonization, as the narrator dreams of the chains in the souls of the indigenous people and the dwindling of their numbers. The haunting image of Columbus convincing the Queen, with the world in his hands, serves as a powerful reminder of the historical events that forever changed the course of many civilizations. Fichamba's song is a poignant reminder of the complex legacy of exploration and the enduring spirit of the native peoples.