COSTUMES FOR THE INAUGURATION OF

PRESIDENT EVO MORALES AYMA

AT TIWANAKU ON JANUARY 21, 2015

Dennys Ramos Huanca

Wamaniwanka

Artist in charge of costume design

Note. Greetings friends around the world. I am the artist who designed the ceremonial

costume of President Evo Morales. If somebody. Somewhere in the world. Need a costume

for a special event. I offer my services design and development. We work with materials of

Los Andes. Using precious metals and natural fibres. Write to:

https://www.facebook.com/wamaniwanka

PRESENTATION

Prehistory

According to Ibarra Grasso, we have a prehistory of at least 30,000 years. Human

population was diminished during the last Ice Age, and life was difficult. Our ancestors

were creative in the face of these adverse conditions. It was their creative capacity that

enabled them to survive during thousands of years. During the interglacial period, they

had access to great amounts of food and natural resources, providing them with

sufficient energy and time to develop new knowledge and technologies, facilitating the

birth of our native peoples.

Historical processes in the Andes

According to archeology, our nomad, hunter and gatherer ancestors refined their

knowledge and tools during the lithic and archaic periods to adapt to different

territories. During the formative settling period, some peoples domesticated foods such

as corn and potatoes, also animals such as the llama, easing the way for the origin of

peoples and cultures. During the urban and classic periods, important cities were

created where knowledge such as astronomy, architecture, ceramics, textiles, metallurgy

and others were developed, thus paving the way for the emergence of great states,

among them Tiwanaco; its people later united in the Tawantinsuyu.

The knowledge of our population

History and anthropology show that, whenever a population declined, its remainders

were assimilated into others. This fact made it possible for spiritual, cultural, material,

and technological knowledge to be passed on from generation to generation, expanding

geographically. This knowledge continued to develop, even to the Inca period. Some of it

survived throughout the colony, and some until the Republic. But a large part of that

knowledge disappeared due to the European colonization. Currently, our population

preserves only a small part of its original knowledge. But the state, the education system

and communication media have provided us with access to the knowledge and

technologies of humanity.

Knowledge applied for the presidential costumes

At present, we are a society that cultivates its own spiritual, cultural, social, and political

knowledge; usually, we add to it other knowledge and technologies we acquire by

contact to the world. This is why, in producing the costumes for our head of state, we

applied, on the one hand, our ancestral knowledge and technologies, but on the other

also the knowledge and technologies of humanity, thereby saving time and effort – as

our ancestors would have done. The same as our forefathers, we are realists and

creative; we adapt to world conditions, enduring over time.

THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE PRESIDENTIAL COSTUMES

The need for costumes

The need for new costumes for the new term of office of the government of Evo Morales

arose on October 12, 2014, after he won the election. But the official order of beginning

and completing the work was delayed until two weeks prior to his taking office. To meet

the objective, a working team was created, which took over different tasks, among them

general coordination, research, planning, design, production, and assembly of the pieces.

This made it possible to carry out all the work.

The production process

To begin with, the research team studied the sources on the urban and classic Tiwanaku;

then the sketches were made and then digitalized, thus obtaining mock-ups of the

pieces. These digital scale models were used to try out shapes and colors. The design

came up with two versions, the first one on a backing of woven alpaca wool, the second

one on vicuna wool. The design on the vicuna fabric was chosen; then the parts were

produced and put together.

1. THE TEAM

A.P. Dennys Ramos Huanca (Wamaniwanka) – artist in charge of design

Ph. D. Jorge Miranda – researcher in charge of the presidential costumes

Dennys Ramos Huanca – Hand worker

Manuel Sillerico – Hand worker

THE CH’UKU TO COVER THE HEAD

Description of the Ch´uku

The head gear is the most important piece. It is designed on a dark airampu (a highland

cactus variety) color. On the front part, it carries a gold ornament, highlighting the face

of the central character of “The Gate of the Sun”. On the right and left side parts, there

are Pumakunturis; at the top, a Chakana with open spaces. In the back, a two-headed

Qatarí, accompanied by winged pumas.

Symbolic weight of the Ch’ uku

The dark cerise color is inspired by the airampo cactus, which survives in the worst

climatic conditions. It blossoms and produces fruit even in years of severe drought. A

Chacana has been included in the upper part to receive the wisdom of the Four Suyus of

the Alaxpacha. The side parts are protected by two Pumakunturis of the Akjapacha,

Alaxpacha. On the back part, a cosmic Qatarí, with fish heads propitiating prosperity, is

snaking along.

The gold piece on the front

Another important complement is the gold piece on the front of the Ch´uku. Its design

was taken from the center character on the “Gate of the Sun”. Several theories exist

concerning this figure. We think that it represents the Inti Willka, Father Sun, sower of

life on earth. The purpose of this piece is for our political leader to receive the clarity and

wisdom of the Inti Willka, (Father Sun) who must guide his thinking and actions.

THE UNKU FOR COVERING THE BODY

Description

In studying Tiwanaku we found that many of their clothes were made of llama, alpaca

and vicuna wool. Vicunas have a very soft and clean coat; this is why the presidential

Unku has been made of a fabric woven with the wool of this animal. The Unku has two

trimmings with iconography where we can discern an almost abstract human figure that

is repeated in series. To complete this design, a gold pectoral has been foreseen to

emphasize the breast area.

Symbolic weight of the Unku

Vicunas are wild animals grazing peacefully in the Andes. When a baby is born, it gets on

its feet after a few minutes only and immediately starts to run. These animals are light

and agile and hard to catch. We hope that these characteristics will transfer to our Chief

of State. On the other hand, we do not want him to walk alone, so the design includes

two columns of Amawtas on the fringes of the Unku to accompany him.

Symbolic weight of the pectoral

A gold pectoral is added to complete the Unku. Its gold color will attract the rays of

Father Sun, radiating its sparks. The Sun is a spiritual being conveying clarity and

wisdom. This is why in this design it carries the face of Tata Inti since it is placed close to

the heart. We wish that this being guide the heart of out Head of State, generating good

emotions to be translated into good actions.

THE BAIZE OR NATURAL WOOL TROUSERS

Their function and symbolic weight

Although they are of simple design and made mainly to protect against the cold, they

also have a symbolic function. Our native authorities prefer to show-off their own

trousers, made of their own materials in their own fashion. This is why these trousers

are a noble item used by our Jilakatas, Mallkus, Apu Mallkus, Kuracas, and Amawtas as

an example of continuity over time. They represent the respect of their cultures and

traditions, in spite of brand trousers currently available at a lower cost.

THE WISKHU USHUTA OR SANDAL

Its symbolic function and weight

The sandals are made of llama leather obtained from the lama’s throat. They gather the

memory of our ancestors, the hunters of llamas, herdsmen, farmers, artisans, builders of

villages, architects, politicians, warriors and religious persons walking the Thaki (path)

of our society. The wearer of these sandals must continue to walk the path of our

civilization with the same secure, agile, and light steps of our forefathers, aware of his

space and time on the Pacha (earth), feeling and caressing the territory with his feet.

THE SCEPTERS TO BE BORNE BY THE PRESIDENT

Their function and symbolic weight

The scepters that will be handed over shelter the mountain spirits. The main one is

made of four noble materials, namely gold obtained from the north of La Paz which,

according to Dr. Miranda and Cancio Mamani will furnish him clarity of thinking; silver

from Potosí will bring forth good emotions; copper from Corocoro will strengthen his

will power to serve his people; the onyx from Illimani will make him open to change,

providing him with the strength and wisdom to lead our country.

(no included)

TRANSITION TO A NEW TIME

Renaissance of a civilization

Apart from the main characters, we are going through a period of historic transition,

entering a new, contemporary, historic and cultural era. Our sacred symbols, spiritual

values of our people, their ritual, cultural, social, and political practices are being

recreated. The foundations of our civilization are being drawn up. To achieve that, we

rely on a new state and a new generation of leaders arising out of Mother Earth, in this

new Pachakuti.

Chuquiagu, January 2015

EVO MORALES AYMA

Wamaniwanka

Dennys Ramos Huanca

Artist in charge of costume design

Provincia Inquisivi – Departamento La Paz – Bolivia

Cell (00591) 78804830

https://www.facebook.com/wamaniwanka

(Translated in: http://www.conferencenetworkvargas.ch/)