This Month of March is dedicated to Los Awatiñas!

Viento Sur, will dedicate this month of March to one of the greatest bolivian bands, Los Awatiñas. They were founded in 1970, and they maintain the roots of their native forefathers. Their goal is to educate young people in conserving their native dignity and culture for the children of the future of Bolivia.
One of the important thing to mention about this band is that they destine part of their concert gains to education and health projects in their native Bolivia, they have been helping the Red Cross of France to build schools and help the children of their native country Bolivia.
In the summer they perform at different musical fetival in France, Belgium, Germany and in other countries in Europe. They go back to La Paz on winter to compose and write new songs.
For more information about los awatinas visit this web page http://incamusic.narod.ru/awatinas/awatinas.htm

Bolivian Alasita 2010!

This afternoon in Viento Sur we have dedicated the show to the Bolivian festival Alasita (“buy me” in the indigenous Aymara language) to pay homage to Ekeko, the squat mustached Bolivian Aymaran god of abundance. The Ekeko is a colorful statue load down with tiny items representing prosperity, abundance and good luck. This is an annual festival when Bolivians like to buy trinkets representing their wishes for the new year in the hope Ekeko will make them come true.
The festival of Alasita combines local Aymara traditions and Roman Catholic beliefs that have being celebrated in Bolivia every January 24 since 1781. In keeping with its traditional roots, a shaman often blesses the trinkets with incense, flower petals and rubbing alcohol. Many participants also climb the stairs to the Roman Catholic cathedral for the blessing of Our Lady of La Paz.

For information regarding this bolivian festivity visit the following links:

http://bolivia-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiesta_de_las_alasitas_in_la_paz_bolivia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG1CJpt3oks

Welcome to Viento Sur 2010

Hello friends of "Viento Sur", I hope all of you had a great holiday season! Welcome to 2010. Today we started the year featuring Bolivian Jazz, I hope you enjoy it, do not forget to tune in next Sunday for the second part on this special to Bolivian Jazz.

Month of the Bolivian Charango

I would like to thank those of you that have pledged for Viento Sur this past April 5, 2009! This month will be dedicated to a 3 part special on the bolivian instrument Charango that was created in Potosi, Bolivia in the 16 century. For more information regarding the bolivian Charango visit the following links:

http://www.charangobolivia.com/ http://antonio.perez.chez-alice.fr/elcharango.htm http://www.musica-andina.jp/~saulcallejas/ http://presencias.net/indpdm.html?http://presencias.net/invest/ht3027.html

Luzmila Carpio's music was featured today!

Today I dedicated the show to the International Women's Day by featuring music from renound female bolivian singer, Luzmila Carpio. This native bolivian woman offers not only beautiful vocals but also insight into the native culture of Bolivia. Having won many European and Latin American music awards her musical stylings will not disappoint.For more information see her web sit at http://www.luzmilacarpio.com/ and the following youtube links:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiEwAx5PYkEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFDxWG_6uZs&feature=related

Boliva Manta Specials January 11th and 18th, 2009

Bolivia MantaCarlos and Julio Arguedas founded Bolivia Manta to help preserve and promote the traditions of the indigenous communities of the the bolivian Andes. "When the Spaniards arrived," notes the group, "thousands of men were uprooted from their communities and condemned to work in the towns and mining centers. Exploited, despised, they continued to play and the music endured through time, getting richer from the influences that mixed in with it." As is often the case with groups that strive to promote Native culture, they have experienced political and economic difficulties in their home country that forced them to live in exile in Europe. "Forced to give up part of ourselves, we leave in increasing numbers, pushed on by need and the hope of leading a less miserable life. When our exile and our loneliness are at their deepest, the music is there like a call that revives within us a world full of excitement and deep feelings."

Viento Sur wishes you HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I would like to wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAYS! PEACE and LOVE for 2009!
Thank you to all of you that have been listening and supporting "Viento Sur" in 2008. Once again I invite you to listen "Viento Sur" every Sunday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm EST from www.ciut.fm or you can listen past editions by clicking under the Viento Sur Replay Shows.