The grandfather of grandfathers: that is the ñaupa.
The ñaupa is the oldest ancient.
The ancestor.
The most ancient ancestor.
Ñaupa means the one that was, but
also means the one that will be.
Of the past and of the future.
The past. The future.
The one that is ahead, like a dream,
the one that is going to be.
Ñaupa is oneself and the others.
We are Ñaupa.
Alfredo Mires
For at least 2000 years, a character has been constantly reproduced in Cajamarcan ceramics. The callanas or pieces scattered in the huacas or sanctuaries in the mountains bear witness to this presence.
The character wears a smile -sometimes with teeth, sometimes without-, has an oval head and has different proportions and shapes: with hair -upward or downward- or without it; with short or long ears or without them; with dot, circle or double circle eyes; with scrolls or tufts or without them.
In the Andean world there is no individual, the isolated person: the word suq that names the one is the same that refers to the other. One is another. Perhaps this explains another characteristic of the character: he usually has a similar one inside himself, as if he were his inner self or his centre. This is ratified in the fact that when he is not with his arms up, he is also intertwined with others.
But the character is not only in ceramics. In the rock art -the most remote manifestation of the culture- they are also present, which would demonstrate their continuity. In the cliffs of the Apu Yamalán -whose marks could be no less than eight thousand years old- we have found a similar image, of great size, painted in red.
Alfredo Mires
in: El Ñaupa
Dear readers,
in the last few months, after the death of Alfredo Mires, we have noticed the improper use of his books, texts, images and recreations. As an association and as a family we hold the copyright of these publications and we are trying to protect them in different ways. Sharing this text -the introduction of "El Ñaupa"- is one of these ways.
Thank you for disseminating, for sharing, for learning and for helping us to protect the intellectual and artistic heritage of Alfredo, as well as of the community members who participated in the production of the books of the Network.
When we hear the word "assembly", the memory of a long, tedious and tiring meeting may come to our mind, like those we often had at our children's school... or have, still.
Fortunately, in the Rural Libraries Network, this concept is totally different, since it is a "government" and decision-making body, with representatives of the communities where the libraries are located.
We begin each Assembly asking for permission and the blessing of our land, of the Apus and of our deceased. We entrust them with the success of our activities and the care of our families who stay at home. We look for different ways to review the history of our Network and the values that a volunteer should show, because from time to time it is necessary to remember our beginnings and our raison d'être. We also read together and evaluate how we are doing in the exercise of reading to understand what we read, to give our opinion and to discern.
We participate in the book exchange party. We enjoy together the moments of meals, we laugh with each occurrence and memory. We pray remembering those who have already gone and left us all this legacy, especially our dear Alfredo, we ask him to continue guiding us along the path he showed us years ago.
We take a moment to review the tasks that have been done and the tasks that are still pending. We look together for the solution to some difficulties that we committed ourselves to solve in the time that we see each other, before we return to our communities.
The days pass quickly and it is time to say goodbye. We all return to our homes and communities, with new books and the task of insisting on reading, "because we are stubborn", as Alfredo used to say.
This is what a General Assembly in the Rural Libraries Network is like.
This year, we are already preparing for what is to come because in April we will have our first Assembly.
