Canción Quéchua

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna's 'Canción Quéchua' is a poignant tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the indigenous people of the Andes, particularly the Quechua, and a lament for the lost Inca Empire, known as Tawantinsuyu or Tihuantisuyo in Quechua language. The song's lyrics evoke the grandeur of the Inca civilization, referencing the 'Amautas' (wise teachers), 'coyas' (queens), and the spiritual connection to the land through music and dance.

The song contrasts the vibrant life of the Inca people with the desolation brought by the Spanish conquest. The 'dos mil fuegos vivos' (two thousand living fires) and 'flautas de oro' (golden flutes) symbolize the cultural and spiritual wealth that was prevalent before the arrival of the Europeans. The 'bajaste ciego de soles' (descended blind from suns) likely refers to the Spanish conquerors who, blinded by their own greed and ambition, failed to see the value of the indigenous culture they were destroying. The transformation of the landscape, from maize fields to wheat and from vicuñas to cattle, represents the forced change upon the native ecosystem and economy.

The song ends with a call for the 'Indio loco, Indio que niño' (crazy Indian, Indian child) to return to their god Pachacamac, a creator deity in pre-Inca mythology. This is a metaphorical plea for the revival of indigenous identity and a return to the spiritual roots that were disrupted by colonization. 'Canción Quéchua' is not just a song but a powerful reminder of a civilization that thrived and the ongoing struggle of its descendants to preserve their history and identity.