Indigenous History, Languages and Cultures Week 2024
These conversations with Argentine musicians Charo Bogarín and Enzo Buono (“Revitalizando las lenguas originarias a través del canto”) and with with Brazilian Art Educator Lucia Fernanda Jofej Kaingang and poet and geographer Márcia Wayna Kambeba took place as part of this year’s Indigenous History, Languages and Cultures Week. The two-day program was convened by Célia Bianconi, Master Lecturer and head of the Portuguese Language Program, and María Datel, Master Lecturer and head of the Spanish Language Program. It was sponsored by BU Diversity & Inclusion’s Learn More Series, the Department of Romance Studies, and the Center for Latin American Studies.
Charo Bogarín is a prominent singer and songwriter dedicated to exploring the folk music of her homeland. Born on September 24, 1972, i, she co-founded the duo Tonolec and is currently pursuing a solo career. Charo’s deep commitment to folk music is evident in her research and blending of indigenous and contemporary traditions, resulting in a unique style that has gained recognition both nationally and internationally. Throughout her career, Charo has demonstrated a passion for preserving and promoting the richness of Argentine folklore, establishing herself as an emblematic figure in the Latin American music scene.
Enzo Buono, originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, ventured to the United States in 1991, settling in Chicago. He swiftly formed his own band and began performing in local clubs, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Liza Minnelli,, Tito Puente, and Celia Cruz. In 2000, Enzo embarked on a musical adventure to India. Over the years, he has produced over 16 albums in India, showcasing his versatility and passion for global music. In 2004 when he joined the Playing for Change team. Serving as a music producer, recording engineer, cameraman, and photographer, he has traveled extensively, collaborating with a diverse array of artists. His contributions to the Playing For Change project have been invaluable, and he remains dedicated to the movement to this day.
Fernanda Kaingáng, of the Caingangue ethnic group, is the executive director of the Brazilian Indigenous Institute for Intellectual Property (INBRAPI), a civil society entity focused on protection of the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples. A laywer, artist and indigenous leader, her name in Kaingáng is Jófej, which means the medicinal herb flower and symbolizes healing. Kaingáng is also an art educator, an environmentalist, and an ardent defender of human rights of indigenous peoples. She was the first indigenous lawyer born in the Southern Region of Brazil, graduating from the Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (UNIJUÍ) in 2000, and the first to obtain a master’s degree in public law at a Brazilian University, at the University of Brasilia in 2006. She later received a PhD in cultural heritage and intellectual property from the Faculty of Archeology at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Márcia Kambeba, of the Omágua/Kambeba indigenous people in Brazil, is the author of Ay kakyri Tama – Eu moro na cidade (2013). She’s a writer, composer, poet, activist, photographer, performer, and public speaker on indigenous and Amazonian subjects. With a master’s degree in geography and a PhD in Linguistic Studies, she offers workshops and storytelling throughout Brazil and abroad. She has published 8 books and more than 30 musical compositions and is a member of the International Academy of Brazilian Literature in the USA and the Academia Formiguense de Letras in Minas Gerais.