Quipu Zurich: an example of the promotion of Peruvian culture abroad

If work doing culture in Peru It already implies a risk, struggling alone with the aim of spreading our identity abroad is, at least, a laudable contribution. In this sense, the specific case of the Peruvian consul general in Zurich José Zapata López, a diplomat with more than 30 years of career, deserves to be highlighted. His most recent effort occurred a few days ago with Quipu Zurich, a Peruvian cultural fortnight in the Swiss city, which in this first edition was carried out virtually due to the health emergency. But by 2022, the large program -with talks, cinema, music, art, etc.- will take place in person without neglecting the online transmission of activities.

Zapata’s work began in the late eighties, but became more relevant at the beginning of the new century, when the idea of ​​seeing the Peruvian community as a cultural resource became an important event in Buenos Aires. At that time, “It is important to mention that the majority of Peruvian migrants had almost no experience with public culture in Peru. Many left the country from the urban periphery or from the provinces. And arriving in a place with a large number of cultural networks like Buenos Aires meant an opportunity to generate spaces that help to reconnect Peruvians ”.

Thus, all this analysis was turned into the so-called Cultural Month of Peru for three years until Zapata was changed mission. Illustrious Peruvians of the stature of Antonio Cisneros, Rodolfo Hinostroza, Christian Bendayán and Luis Repetto collaborated in this Bonarense project.

Although initiatives like these are thought to be impractical and without a budget, Zapata has demonstrated the value and scope of serving Peruvians outside the country. For him “

Another issue of interest to the Zurich consul is the relationship between stress and migration. It is known that moving around can cause anxiety as well as homesickness. That is one of the reasons why many Peruvians take refuge in our own culture. As Zapata says “”. In this regard, and after the experience in Quipu Zurich, a series of conferences given by psychotherapists, psychologists and anthropologists has been organizing for March or April next, addressing the issue of the psychological cost of migration.

The fact: to learn more about this initiative visit the Facebook Quipu Zürich.