Solidarity in Saya is a documentary that tells the inspiring story of how the Afro-Bolivian community uses their traditional music, Saya, as a form of resistance and empowerment. The film explores the rarely told history of how enslaved Africans were brought to this colonial region that would become Bolivia. The documentary features the voices of Bolivians of African descent and shows the resilience of the community, their culture, and how their tradition of Saya music and dance has been part of their movement for recognition in the world.
…a unique, insightful film that shows how performative practices are intertwined with politics and are powerful forms for effecting change in a society. It is highly recommended for undergraduate or graduate classes on performance, popular culture, social movements, the African Diaspora in Latin America, and Latin American Studies in general.
Zoila S. Mendoza, PhD
Native American Studies Department, University of California, Davis
Native American Studies Department, University of California, Davis
…accomplishes an extremely important task of conveying a narrative that is begging to be seen and heard into a brief but well-informed film. It definitely deserves wide distribution!
Lolita Gutierrez Brockington, PhD, Latin American History Senior Scholar Institute of African American Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Through sound, dance, and testimonials, Solidarity in Saya beautifully documents the centrality of music in a social movement of Afro-descendant Bolivians. Crafted in a way that is wonderfully accessible to students, Solidarity in Saya presents a timely and welcome addition to discussions of marginalized peoples throughout Latin America, and provides another view into on-going struggles against persistent inequalities.”
Michelle Bigenho, Professor
Anthropology and Africana & Latin American Studies, Colgate University
Anthropology and Africana & Latin American Studies, Colgate University
Areas of Academic Interest:
- Africana Studies
- Anthropology
- Ethnomusicology
- Latin American Studies
- Performance Studies
- Sociology
- Social Justice Studies
- Spanish
“Solidarity in Saya” is carried by academic institutions such as:
Official Selection
