Orality, music, and letters: the revolution of the word in the poetry of Jose Maria Arguedas and Candelario Obeso

Abstract

The poetry of Candelario Obeso (1849-1884) and José María Arguedas (1911-1969) rescues the vernacular of the afro-descendants and indigenous communities of the Magdalena River in Colombia and Quechua speakers of Peru, respectively. The work of both authors is closely related to the oral expression of the peoples and the musicality that emerges from the word in traditional songs and celebrations. This article analyzes the poetic work of these two authors in their purpose of recovering marginalized voices in nation-building projects. Their writing claims the poetic richness of the formsof everyday expression of these communities.

Keywords

• afro-descendant
• indigenous people
• oral expression
• poetry
• quechua