Shared soundscapes: The (re)activation of an institutional and individual archive of Peruvian music and dance

“Shared soundscapes” is a key concept that allows us to identify the multiplicity of agencies involved in historical sound recordings and their reactivation today. We use notion compare two very different Peruvian case studies concerning Asháninka Nomatsiguenga peoples Central Rainforest Muchik, Quechua, mestizo Lambayeque region, along with respective music traditions. Part sonic legacy stored archives; one was created by an individual anthropologist, other institutional ethnomusicological archive. The comparison current soundscapes brings fore anthropological issues regarding how web actors—among them activists from academia these communities—have shaped archives as process practice. It raises questions about collaborative approaches decolonize repositories, which implies handing over rights individuals communities so they can make decisions legacies. “Paisajes sonoros compartidos” es un concepto clave que permite identificar la multiplicidad de agencias involucradas en las grabaciones sonoras históricas y su reactivación actualidad. Utilizamos esta noción para comparar dos estudios caso peruanos muy diversos: el los pueblos Selva Central; Quechua mestizos Región Lambayeque, junto con sus respectivas tradiciones musicales. Parte legado sonoro está almacenado archivos, uno creado por antropólogo otro archivo institucional etnomusicología. La comparación entre paisajes históricos actuales pone relieve cuestiones antropológicas sobre cómo una red actores—entre ellos activistas del mundo académico comunidades—ha configurado estos archivos términos prácticas procesos. Surgen interrogantes aproximaciones colaborativas descolonizar repositorios musicales, lo implica ceder derechos individuos comunidades toma decisiones legados sonoros. Shared often emerge when local dance traditions are appropriated actors for identity politics cultural revival. Our engagement anthropologists interested music, dance, storytelling, range verbal arts, well our work archives, archive, respectively, motivated studies: concern District Pangoa region on northern coast Peru. point departure exchange between Kummels Cánepa, who realized regions had followed closely since early 1980s 1990s, lacked comparative framework. started assumption there indeed marked differences studies, connected specific wider contexts audio audiovisual materials were recorded, stored, circulated. seemed probable “return” or might take courses depending particular its characteristics, biases, potential empowerment based operative willing mobilize considered musicians, promoters, teachers, political leaders, descendants former collaborators, new stakeholders alike, anthropologists, would want get reactivating traditional genres coresearchers. term coresearcher highlights expertise interlocutors recordkeeping skills originate own societies. also emphasizes negotiation relationship equals quest generate knowledge jointly decolonized ways. assume varied constellations protagonists policies engage decisively impinge soundscape dynamics therefore emic notions uses sound. Accordingly, people intervene may choose emphasize sound's multifaceted immaterial aspects (words, melody; Yamada, 2017), material ones (instruments; Borras, 1995), poetics performativity (Feld, 1982), decolonization (Robinson, 2020; Kummels, 2023) further interests. abovementioned features main interest allow better understanding way social hierarchies; forms discrimination race, class, ethnicity, gender, geographical origin; struggles more parity. set out know constantly negotiated face inequalities; shared meant convey ambivalence German geteilt, means both “shared” “divided” perceiving unevenness disagreement actors. Soundscapes project officially began September 2021, it now includes Barreto study Maradiegue Cánepa (see https://www.shared-soundscapes.net).1 have harnessed analysis research format concerned. seeks dialogue empower launch manage repositories skilled archivists. Acknowledging actors, archival agendas, techniques rethinking “sound repatriation”—or rather “the return circulation where has been unavailable result external power differences” (Seeger, 2018, 2)—along activities rely community's memory processes sometimes separated entwined. This crucial archive practice (Gilliland, 2017). Similarly Miguel García (2017, 17; see Ketelaar, 2017, 237), we interpret production open many participate investing background intellectual thought experience. However, dealing still riddled postcolonial rifts regard technological assets, accessibility, education opportunities, rights, such limited recognition official most Peru's 48 Indigenous languages. not only identifying mobilizing today but relates uneven soundscapes. sonorities captured be traced back interests skills. These imprints incidental: oratory, voice, emitted recorded intentionally achieve certain purpose, is, several intervened recordings, advance objectives needed collaborate. From perspective process, will briefly outline characteristics working show require epistemic foundations access questioned—and, thus, why decolonization. One context establishment republican geography nineteenth century, threefold regional imaginary Coast/Sierra/Rainforest influences identities represented reproduced part nation (Orlove, 1993). Comprehensive follow this tripartite imaginary, classifying musical instruments either Coastal, Andean, Amazonian. contributes widespread perception being encapsulated regions. Therefore, iconic dances, generally ascribed three ethnic groups. exemplify biases. Initially, IDE concentrated collecting Andean according distinguished Andes, Amazon, Coastal neglecting latter two. division, echoed geopolitical tripartition, first questioned during fieldwork coastal highland areas region. Later, field made districts incorporating collections researchers, publications, broaden IDE's approach. Conversely, private Manfred Schäfer representative emphasis given peoples’ myths primarily Stefano Varese, Gerald Weiss, Alberto Chirif, period neglect. In cases approached advanced age donated important personal archives. Perhaps maintained possession long possible guarantee control agendas. 1978 on, organized his publication freely distributed circuit common objective empowering peoples: question, Society Threatened Peoples (GfbV, after name German), Centro Investigación Promoción Amazónica (CIPA, Spanish), organizations like Interethnic Association Amazon (AIDESEP, Spanish). Since inception 1985, included bringing copies items originated, disseminating via academic offering on-site consultation sum, must into account each collection, respect circuits dissemination. One, at university Peru, designed promote nation's diversity; other, Germany, instrument international solidarity Amazonian peoples, transcending rainforest nationally bounded entity. Relying recent recording technology time, depended collaboration specialists dance. Nevertheless, complex interplay received little recognition, times even erased. original metadata privileged authorship investigator controlling funding paid less attention—and gave no rights—to persons whom currently consider Locally, frequently belong families, congregations, communities. imbalance requires meticulous elucidation At same later contain potentially Reactivation inviting those documented decades ago, descendants, interpretation methods; should decide deal visions future. approach inspired repatriation, developed realm ethnomusicology, anthropology, museum (for overview, contributions Gunderson, Lancefield, Woods, 2018). revival/recuperation movements arts—whether inside outside originally memorized documented—for purpose making demands audible visible. Local experts resort know-how rooted involves triggering qualities thus decolonizing Redressing inequalities inscribed archive's renovating emancipative relationships redefined structurally altered ways: through symmetrical knowledges once marginalized, acknowledging images own, including engaging joint theory building. elements wider, picture introduction issue). initiated Schäfer, Tres Unidos Matereni. then turn parallel discussion Collection, team musicologists housed IDE. How do coresearchers what ways coproduce four socialized biases transnational Peruvian-German setting described above? seek decolonial practices enable equal modalities access, listening, performance players Gilliland, digital era, documenting archiving become accessible sense nonspecialists dedicate time collecting, classifying, publishing artifacts Yet facilities unevenly Given constitution soundscapes, ask: What era digitalization overcome differential due disparities educational training archives? kind did record trip Matereni 1978? Many 80-minute-long, reel-to-reel tape he labeled “Asháninca”—at discriminatory exonym “Campa” widely use. His visit community western Ene River basin action anthropology desire support efforts obtain land title Comunidad Nativa.2 Securing Velasco government's reform strategy employed pioneer organization led Quinchoker counteract extractivist Morales Bermúdez Belaúnde administrations. state favored “colonization” grabbing settlers, forced inhabitants peons. To secure remaining territory, lived combination agriculture hunting, fishing, gathering joined forces founded novel central settlement. Schäfer's documents large centralizing festivities building alliances. 1983 alliances resulted granting (to together Chichireni Anapati). registered tapes polyphonic encompass festivities, narrating myths, singing evangelical songs, shamanic chanting, delivering speeches dedicated claims ancestral land. men, women, leaders called pinkatsari, ayahuasca shaman length stake; himself coproducing Matereni's inhabitants. analyses supplied section product long-term, unraveling project. As I (Kummels) kept multimodal my late companion home Amorbach, remember experiences while memories tools evoking past events. Today various devising record-keeping share (Kummels Barreto) vice versa. Cesario Chiricente, activist throughout 1980s. reflect skills: moderation exegesis performances centralized festive interventions decisive role ascribe voices singing, perceive intonation pitch essential communicating otherworldly humans. voice pivotal matikantsi, cosmogonical songs chanted maninkerentsi, sung women dancing row, tamporotantsi, accompanied drum. addition, sonkatantsi, instrumental pieces played pan flutes five pipes (sonkari). performers attribute agency solely materiality keep moral obligation trade almost any object if asked it. Addressing recorder gathered before him, commented within cosmology (Figure 1). He highlighted complementary men playing sonkari serve worshipping manioc, sacred, staple food. mobilized audience flute thinking aloud future remembrance could accomplished duration batteries. Social hierarchies, gender issues, leadership, concerns soundscape—as interpreted present son Simón. 1980s, bring cassette photos community, survived passing whereas spectacular enhanced activities, persist. Which keepsakes, does entail? 2014, 25-year-long absence, returned my/Schäfer's archive—printed photos, digitized films, (Kummels, 2016). Nativa immediately responded enormous accessing history innovation titling. Meanwhile, bridge because am 66-year-old witness history. major changes emergence myriad organizations—often alliance groups—that pressured government. continues extractive industries, extent programs forest management promotion cash crop unable offset. conduct tough negotiations diplomacy government affirm preservation rainforest. recuperation conveying land, sustainable management, terms. grassroots level, masato, lightly alcoholic beer all ages, children. rapidly found myself explaining, answering questions, laughing (as interaction) masato gatherings. everyday form sociality (Killick, 2009) intensified despite radical occurred 1970s—or them. Exchanging views drinking resignified antidote market logics increasingly pervade realms expanded transportation infrastructure remote agriculture. get-togethers, crafting practiced, thereby generating Hugh-Jones, voicing queries listening other's respectful Powell, 2019). brought always discussed noisy atmosphere anyone. People life resinging ways, generation memories. Masato gatherings thorny discussed: belong? affect song's authors? protected commercialization? render ancestors founded, opinion gradually formed whole community; therefore, individual, communal affair, consensus General Assembly. proposed CD compiling securing music—discussions conducted decision taken Assembly (Comunidad 2022). (Barreto Kummels), members, identified appropriate leveling advancing goal shifting view “Asháninkanizing” “Nomatsiguenganizing” archive: question able Internet platform. close Chiricente's children Shenkari Chobiavante (approximately 1904–1990), legendary shaman, play active tapes. But well, bilingual request among 75 circulate versions. Against backdrop, event Matikantsi Festival 2023). revitalization teachers carry below). During run-up anniversary title, contribute financially; money prizes incentive best matikantsi. On day, program packed student presentations folkloric neatly divided scheme Coast/Sierra/Rainforest. No provided space adult sing surprise, soon titles schools handed authorities, pinkatsari intoned Other chiefs example. All animals fluid humans, animals, nature. light conservation, denied promoted cattle raising deforestation settler livelihood. Bilingual powerful Organization Teachers (OMABINOAP, Spanish) intercultural mother tongues cultures. Their evolved Pangoa, player 1960s, dominated settlers invaded response coffee boom; furthermore, hispanos, mainly origin, public education, Comunidades Nativas. musicianship tied age-old territory giving priority speakers head schools. Today, creating dimension competitions commonly juegos ancestrales, sports games, include bow-and-arrow contests, badminton, game similar basketball. Ancestralidad used revivalists refer expressions history, opposed modern urban volatile unsustainable. teacher's pedagogical framework developing cognitive physical children's status Rainforest. II . Educational Intercultural Original Anapati Basin 2022, resurgence intercultural, anticommercial soundscape: monolingual, Spanish-speaking mostly invited. “Modern” clothing industrial foodstuffs banned. Instead, quantities giant plastic barrels hundreds pupils A maninkerentsi girls first-grade class conveyed ancestralidad: performing elegant, bright yellow tunics (cushmas gala) ancestral, though usual some 30 years ago Figure 2). lyrics contemporary: “We population forgotten. exist!” Training schoolchildren values purely symbolic instead “Amasonic politics” 2023): strike directly November, appeared armed bow arrow protest/war languages blocking traffic Rainforest's artery week. They successful pressuring ministry restore (Channel N, course reactivation? collaborating endeavor consist ago. across generations, becoming politically influential. When up diverse modify expand goal: believe containing ultimately used. examples paths geared toward greater equality. Collection taking shape (Cánepa Maradiegue) it, materials. turn, collection shapes contemporary region.3 Previous methodologies one-year calendar religious festivals rituals, prioritizing sequences beginning end, highlighting musicians dancers overlooked. however, aside celebrations, birthdays, marriages, courtesy visits events coplas, tristes, marineras, tonderos entertainment dancing. Hence, 1990 arranged interviews sessions musicians’ homes, closer