UC Riverside

In the Quebrada of Humahuaca, a geographically and culturally defined region of Northwestern Argentina, an expressive musical tradition known as the copla has a long history. A hybrid of Spanish literary form, indigenous musical influence, and regional thematic content, it is experienced in various contexts. This thesis investigates how copleros and copleras, participants in copla circles, and community audiences experience coplas as a connection to their indigenous identity, a vehicle for paying homage to the indigenous mother earth deity, Pachamama, an expression of their identity as Quebradeños, and/or a tool for delivering socio-political critique.