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News > Culture

Bolivia's Cholitas Showcase Indigenous Culture in Art And Sports

  • Cholitas during a fashion show at Villa Esperanza.

    Cholitas during a fashion show at Villa Esperanza. | Photo: Reuters

Published 19 August 2017
Opinion

Indigenous women seek to empower their communities and become an international tourist attraction.

Bolivia's famous Indigenous women, known as "Cholitas", are starting a program to offer tourist experiences in fashion, fighting and mountain climbing.

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The initiative was created by the Ministry of Culture and the Bolivian Tourism Company to highlight the Museum of the Revolution as well as the Cholitas from the southwestern town of Orinoca, about 185 kilometers from the city of Oruro.

"We want community members to become providers of tourism services," Manager of the Bolivian Tourism Company, Lourdes Omoya, said during an event to launch the program.

The "Cholitas" famously wrestle, using the sport as an opportunity to empower themselves and renegotiate the sexist and racist connotations that are associated with Indigenous women in Bolivia.

"Cholitas wrestling is very well-known in Europe. Tourists come to La Paz and ask where they can see this show," Omoya said in a press conference.

The female wrestlers known as “Cholitas Luchadoras” are a Bolivian phenomenon inspired by Mexican known equivalent as Lucha Libre. With their polleras, shawls and long braids, they proudly wear their traditional clothing while taking on male and female athletes.

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The "Cholitas" don vividly colored and embroidered skirts, gold accessories and small hats.

They are mostly of Aymara and Quechua descent and often come from low-income households.

The tourist package will cost about US$28 and will include transportation and food.

 Tours of President Evo Morales's home plus visits to the newly-opened Museum of the Revolution, and tickets to parades and shows will also be available.

"We have taken a tourist offer to highlight Orinoca, we want to show our history and our culture," Omoya said.

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