Luzmila Carpio

Luzmila Carpio (born 1954 in Qala - Qala, Potosí Department ) is an indigenous Bolivian singer.

Luzmila Carpio was born in a Quechua community in the north of the Bolivian department of Potosí and learned as a child, indigenous or quechuasprachige music of their environment. She grew up with the traditional Andean culture, which included a strong love of nature and devotion to the Mother Earth ( Pachamama ).

As a teenager she moved to Oruro, where she lived as a singer. In a radio station, she sang the national anthem of Bolivia, the only Spanish-language song she knew. Due to their abilities, she was accepted as the main singer in a band that took part in a music competition in Cochabamba and so Luzmila made ​​widely known. The composed of it in traditional style piece andinem SiWay Azucena was popular throughout Bolivia and helped her as a breakthrough.

Contrary to the prevailing trend towards a Europeanization of culture, Luzmila Carpio decided to spread their songs the indigenous culture of the Andes. These included that, after they had temporarily predominantly sung Spanish, again predominantly sang in their native Quechua language, partly in Aymara. The decision against the trend they deliberately took the risk of lower revenue in purchasing. Their music was thus a symbol of the cultural self-confidence of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. In this context, they also wrote or edited several children's songs, including, for example, Ima sarata munanki ' What Corn do you want? ' Aylluman kutiripuna ' return to the village community '. These songs are popular with the children in rural schools in Bolivia.

With their concerts in Europe and CDs Luzmila Carpio has now also international success.

On 21 April 2006 Luzmila Carpio was appointed in Paris by President Evo Morales to the Bolivian ambassador.