After decades and decades of neglect, the government of Peru finally decided to recognize and salute the African descendants that form perhaps as high as 10 percent of its population. An important element in this recognition was the creation of the Museo Nacional Afroperuanos (National Museum of the Afro-Peruvian Peoples) in the capitol city of Lima.
The museum was given a fine building -- a beautiful late 18th century edifice -- as well as a budget and a director. Under the director, the museum built up a collection of artifacts and documents related to the history of Afro-Peruvians including the two and a half centuries in which they were enslaved in Peru.
The museum also engaged in a great deal of outreach, including classes in dance, cajón, history and culture. These classes, some directed towards adults and some intended for children, were for the most part free. They boasted good instructors, including Lalo Izquierdo, the star of our documentary A Zest for Life: Afro-Peruvian Rhythms, a Source of Latin Jazz, who taught many of the cajón classes.
Then, a few months ago, something happened. I am not very conversant with Peruvian politics, so I can´t really tell you what, but I can tell you the effects.
The museum´s director, Dr. Augusto Lavala, was terminated. No new director was hired. The budget was either cut drastically or completely eliminated. All the classes had to be cancelled. And then, the government turned the administration of the museum´s building over to a government organ unrelated to Afro-Peruvian culture (the Oficina de Participación, Proyección y Enlace con el Ciudadano).
I am very, very sad to see this happen. In any event, if you want to see the museum´s still extant web site, which gives a virtual tour of the building it no longer occupies, go HERE. If you want to see photos from the former classes, and other evidence of what the museum used to do, go to its Facebook page, which is HERE.
One happy note: Lalo Izquierdo and others are continuing to give classes in cajón, Afro-Peruvian dance, and more in the town of San Luis de Cañete, to help maintain the tradition.
OUR NEXT POST will be about the Centro Cultural Afroperuano San Daniel de Carboni of the predominantly Afro-Peruvian town of el Carmen, Peru.
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