El Güegüense

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El Güegüense

El Güegüense (also known as Macho Ratón) is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of pre-colombian Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin Americas most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaraguas signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater.^[1] There was also a monument built in the center of a rotonda (roundabout) in Managua, in its honor.^[2] El Güegüense is performed during the feast of San Sebastián in Diriamba (Carazo department) from January 17 to the 27th.

1 Origin
- 1.1 Etymology
2 History
3 El Güegüense
- 3.1 The play
- 3.2 Storyline
4 Characters
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Origin

The theatrical play was written by an anonymous author in the 16th century, making it one of the oldest indigenous theatrical/dance works of the Western Hemisphere.^[3] It was passed down orally for many centuries until it was finally written down and published into a book in 1942.^[4]

[edit] Etymology

The "Güegüense", which is derived from the náhuatl word "huehue" which means "Old Man", comes from the main character in the play.

[edit] History

"El Güegüense" represents folklore of Nicaragua, therefore, UNESCO proclaimed it a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" in 2005 making Nicaragua the only country in Central America and one of six in Latin America to have 2 proclaimed masterpieces by UNESCO.^[5] The first proclaimed masterpiece was the "Oral traditions and expressions" of the Garifuna.^[6]

[edit] El Güegüense

[edit] The play

According to the first written version the plot has 314 lines.

[edit] Storyline

[edit] Characters

El Güegüense at the San Sebastián in Diriamba.

The play includes 14 characters, the three mestizos:

Güegüense (and his sons)
- Don Forcico
- Don Ambrosio

The Spanish authorities:

Governor Tastuanes
Captain Alguacil Mayor
the Royal Clerk
the Royal Assistant;

The women:

Doña Suche Malinche - (along with two ladies that accompany her)
Macho-moto, Macho-viejo, Macho-mohino, and Macho-guajaqueño (the four beasts of burden; referred to as ‘machos’)