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The Last King of America: An African King in Bolivia
“Tucked away in an isolated part of Bolivia, there is a royal family whose existence is as surprising as it is humble. Despite his title, King Don Julio I and his wife live in a small apartment atop a small store in Mururata, Bolivia, where he farms coca leaves and other crops.
Yet this modest monarch can trace his lineage to [Central] Africa, where his ancestor Prince Uchicho was enslaved in 1820 and taken by the Spaniards to work in the silver mines of the region. That era gave rise to the country’s Afro-Bolivian population, which sustained the tradition, which was largely ceremonial, said Susana Giron, a Spanish photographer who was intrigued by the life of the current king, who was born 73 years ago as Julio Pinedo.”
“I had read stories about how there was a king hidden in the jungle,” Ms. Giron said. “But the story was not very good and the pictures were poor. There was nothing serious that took time. So I decided to document it in depth.”
She had actually stumbled across the story while researching projects to do in Bolivia, which she had planned to visit after participating in a 2012 exhibit in Argentina. It turned out the royal house had a website, which put her in touch with a Spanish diplomat who had been helping the king and his family, paying to send their son, Prince Rolando, to school in La Paz. Through the diplomat, Ms. Giron arranged to stay in the king’s town, being put up in an office across the street from the royal residence, spending the night in a sleeping bag with blankets provided by Queen Angelica.
According to the website and Ms. Giron, after Prince Uchicho was enslaved and taken to Bolivia, other slaves recognized him and persuaded the owner of the hacienda to let them work more hours so the prince would be spared having to toil. He was succeeded by others until the mid-1950s, when King Bonifacio I died, and none of his children took the royal mantle.
Ms. Giron said that a historian who purchased the old hacienda — where the Pinedos had taken the names of the slave owners — learned about the royal connection to Africa and set about to find an heir. His efforts, she said, led him to Julio Pinedo, who was named king in 1992.
“He is a symbolic figure,” she said. “For the Afro-Bolivians, he is important because he gives them a cultural identity. It shows they are a people descended from Africa. It is about their history and culture.”
The history of Africans in Latin America has been coming more and more to the fore in recent years. In Bolivia, it was not until recently that they were even counted in the national census, with their 2012 population pegged at some 23,000 in a country of 10 million. They still face discrimination and socioeconomic obstacles.
“He doesn’t feel like a king,” Ms. Giron said. “He told me, ‘A king lives in a palace, not in misery.’ He is shy and doesn’t talk much. He would rather talk about agriculture than being a king.”
In fact, to gain Mr. Pinedo’s trust, she spent a lot of time with him, at first accompanying him on his daily tasks, in the fields and in town. She said it was important to be discreet and helpful. He ran a small store that sold basic goods — refreshments, oil, bread and vegetables — as well as cultivating a coca patch, whose leaves he harvests, with Prince Rolando’s help, and sells at market.
When he is relaxing, in the store or at home, the king prefers to watch television. His wife on the other hand, is more outgoing. Ms. Giron said she participated in a lot of local events and goes to literacy classes, too.
Ms. Giron has returned to the town to continue documenting his story. There is even talk of the royal family visiting parts of West Africa that may have royal relatives.
“There have been symbolic connections, but they have never traveled to Africa,” Ms. Giron said. “He accepts that humbly, and he would go. He accepts being a king, though it does not excite him. He’s not comfortable in the world of diplomacy. He’s a farmer.”
Source: https://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/lens/2015/11/17/an-african-king-in-bolivia/
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Christmas 2021
English
Merry Christmas!!
I hope that despite all the situation that we still are, you have had a good year, and thank you very much for all the support you give me! (although they are few, I appreciate it a lot <3)
I hope you haven’t been too malicious, because “Santa Dean” will visit you to give you gifts and joy! (?)
At first I doubted who to draw with a Santa Claus suit, but in the end I stayed with Dean, I think it suits him well and he will surely have fun delivering the gifts ~
Have a good holiday!
I leave the link of the “Speed Paint” [Below ⬇⬇]
Andean, Ande & Dean of my creation (@1andean)
(PS: Sorry for the English)
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Español
Feliz Navidad!!
Espero que a pesar de todas la situación que aun estamos hayáis tenido un buen año, y muchas gracias por todo el apoyo que me dais! (aunque son poquitos lo aprecio mucho <3)
Espero que no hayáis sido demasiado maliciosos, porque os visitara “Santa Dean” para daros regalitos y alegría!(?)
Al principio dude de a quien dibujar con traje de Santa Claus, pero al final me quede con Dean, creo que le queda bien y seguro se divertirá entregando los regalos~
Que tengáis buenas fiestas!
Os dejo el link del “Speed Paint” [Abajo ⬇⬇]
Andean, Ande & Dean de mi creación (@1andean)
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2021
English
Happy New Year!!
The past year has been full of ups and downs, so I hope this year will improve a bit ^^
And that is why, since we are in a year of change, I have decided to do something different with my “Alter Egos”!!
Usually It’s “Andean” who usually changes their hair color (Ande & Dean can also do it, but they prefer their natural color), but for this occasion and to start the year animated and “colorful”, we have decided reverse the roles!
I hope everyone is safe and sound, and hopefully this year improves!!
Andean, Ande & Dean of my creation (@1andean)
If you like it and want to support me I leave my account of ”Ko-Fi”^w^)/
(PS: Sorry for the English)
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Español
Feliz Año Nuevo!!
El año pasado ha estado lleno de altibajos, por lo que espero que este año mejore un poco ^^
Y es por eso, ya que nos encontramos en un año de cambios, he decidido hacer algo distinto con mis “Alter Egos”!!
Usualmente es “Andean” quien suele cambiar su color de pelo (Ande & Dean también pueden, pero prefieren su color natural) , pero para esta ocasión y para empezar el año animados y “coloridos”, hemos decidido invertir los papeles!
Espero que todos se encuentren sanos y salvo, y esperemos que este año mejore!!
Andean, Ande & Dean de mi creación (@1andean)
Si os gusta y quereis apoyarme os dejo mi cuenta de ”Ko-Fi”^w^)/
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A story about a girl from the forest and a black panther
