Regional Office for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean

Portal of Culture of Latin America and the Caribbean

Peru - Poblado de Yapatera (Town of Yapatera)

It is a town on the northern coast, most of whose inhabitants are descendants of African slaves introduced in the region during the times of the viceroyalty. It is estimated that 70% of the population are descendants of the first slaves, who were brought from Angola and Mozambique. The acknowledgement of their African cultural heritage is expressed through musical expressions and the making of “decimas” (Ten eight-syllable verses).

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Agriculture is the main economic activity of the inhabitants of the area. The area’s main production is mango for export. To mark the celebrations in honour of Santiago (St. James), patron saint, each year they hold the “Mango Festival” (January 20th), including artistic performances of black music and festivities.

Accessibility: 55 km to the east of the provincial capital. One hour and ten minutes from Piura.
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Town of Yapatera. Main square in Yapatera.
Town of Yapatera. Workshop on afro Yapatera identity. Yapatera, 2014.
Town of Yapatera. Former estate house in Yapatera.
Town of Yapatera. Ceramic’s workshop in the House of Culture of Yapatera.
Town of Yapatera. The greatest representative of the Cumanana, Mr. Fernando Barranzuela (1934-1917) with Mario Vargas Llosa in Yapatera.
Town of Yapatera. Coat of armas of Yapatera.

Other data of interest

Peru

Responsible entity

Municipality of Yapatera and House of Culture of Yapatera.

Management plan

Promoted by the municipality of the town of Yapatera, backed by a local cultural institution and some neighbours, who promote the knowledge of the black heritage of the area through various activities of the House of Culture of Yapatera.

Classification

Human settlement

Function-Testimony

Multipurpose

Access level

Free

Current Use

Human settlement

Original use

Settlement of slaves from Angola and Mozambique.

Property kind

State

Expressions of intangible heritage associated

La Cumanana: On 26 November 2004, through resolution RDN 1255/INC-2004 of the Ministry of Culture, La Cumanana was declared cultural heritage of the nation, poetry and singing characteristic of the first black inhabitants who arrived to work in the haciendas.