View source for Culture of Bolivia

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is a legitimate description when the title is already adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]] --> {{Use DMY|date=October 2024}}
{{Culture of Bolivia}}
[[File:Desfile en El Alto, Bolivia.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Traditional [[folk dress]] during a festival in Bolivia.]]

'''[[Bolivia]]''' is a country in South America, bordered by [[Brazil]] to the north and east, [[Paraguay]] and [[Argentina]] to the south, [[Chile]] to the west, and [[Peru]] to the west.

The cultural development of what is now Bolivia is divided into three distinct periods: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican. Important archaeological ruins, gold and silver ornaments, stone monuments, [[Pottery|ceramics]], and weavings remain from several important pre-Columbian cultures. Major ruins include [[Tiwanaku]], [[Samaipata, Bolivia|Samaipata]], [[Inkallaqta]] and [[Iskanwaya]]. The country abounds in other sites that are difficult to reach and hardly explored by archaeologists.

The Spanish brought their own tradition of religious art which, in the hands of local indigenous and ''mestizo'' builders and artisans, developed into a rich and distinctive style of architecture, literature, and sculpture known as "Mestizo Baroque." The colonial period produced not only the paintings of Perez de Holguin, Flores, Bitti, and others, but also the works of skilled but unknown [[Stonemasonry|stonecutters]], woodcarvers, [[goldsmith]]s, and [[silversmith]]s. An important body of native baroque religious music of the colonial period was recovered in recent years and has been performed internationally to wide acclaim since 1994. Bolivian artists of stature in the 20th century include, among others, [[Guzman de Rojas]], [[Arturo Borda]], [[María Luisa Pacheco]], [[Master William Vega]], [[Alfredo Da Silva]], and [[Marina Núñez del Prado]].

==Festivals==
[[Paganism|Pagan]] rites from the [[pre-Columbian]] era are still common during the religious festivals of the Natives. The clothing used during the festivals is reminiscent of the dress of pre-Columbian Indians and 16th century [[Spaniards]]. The at the annual [[Carnaval de Oruro|carnival of Oruro]] are among the great folkloric events of South America, as are the lesser known indigenous ''Anata Andina'' and the "carnival" at Tarabuco (''[[Pujllay]]''), or the ''[[Tinku]]'' - fertility rites held at Macha every 3 May. They also celebrate Dia de los Muertos.

==Dances==
[[File:Diablada oruro fraternidad.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Diablada of Oruro|Diablada]]'' dance primeval, typical and main of [[Carnival of Oruro]] a [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]] since 2001 in Bolivia (''Image: Fraternidad Artística y Cultural "La Diablada"'').]] 
Many dances and songs contain elements from both the native and European cultures. ''[[Caporales]]'' seems to be the most popular Bolivian dance of present times&nbsp;&ndash; in a few decades it has developed into an enormously popular dance, not only in the Highlands where it originated, but also in the Lowlands and in Bolivian communities outside the country. In the Highlands, other traditional and still very popular dances are: 
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Awki awki]]
* Cambitas
* Ch'utas
* [[Diablada]]
* [[Kullawada]]
* [[Llamerada]]
* [[Morenada]]
* [[Pukllay]]
* [[Afro-Bolivian]] Saya
* [[Siklla]] (Wayra, Doctorcitos)
* Suri Sikuri
* [[Tango]]
* [[Tinku]]
* [[Tobas (dance)|Tobas]]
* [[Waka waka (dance)|Waka Waka]] 
In the Lowlands, there are:
* Macheteros
* Taquirari
* Chovena
{{div col end}}

==Clothing==
[[File:Afrobolivianwoman.jpg|thumb|An [[Afro-Bolivian]] woman in [[Coroico]].]]
Clothing of Andean people of indigenous descent includes the [[pollera]] (pleated-skirt), the 19th century European [[bowler hat]], and a silky shawl known as a [[Manta (dress)|manta]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Forero|first=Juan|title=Women leave traditional Bolivian dress in closet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/13/world/13iht-journal.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref> The pollera was originally a simple Spanish dress that colonial authorities forced the indigenous populations to wear. The pollera is a symbol of pride for the [[Indigenous peoples in Bolivia|indigenous people]], who live in La Paz, and for people in rural areas.
 
The inhabitants of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, from babies to seniors, wear the same kind of clothes that are typical in western countries, like jeans, shorts (which are the most common because of the heat), t-shirts, dresses, etc.

==Sports==
{{See also|Football in Bolivia}}

[[Association football]] is the most popular sport in Bolivia. The governing body of football in Bolivia is the [[Federación Boliviana de Fútbol]] (FBF), which controls the national teams. The FBF organises the [[Bolivia national football team|men's]], [[Bolivia women's national football team|women's]], and [[Bolivia national futsal team|futsal]] national teams.

The [[Bolivia national football team]] is currently ranked 75th in the world, with their best [[FIFA ranking]] being 18th in the world. The national team has competed at the [[FIFA World Cup]] three times, the [[Copa América]] 23 times, and the [[Confederations Cup]] once.

La Paz has the highest tournament-class golf course in the world.

[[Bolivia's national basketball team]] finished 8th at the [[2016 South American Basketball Championship]]. There, Bolivia beat [[Ecuador national basketball team|Ecuador]] 75-74 for its first victory ever at the event. [[Bolivia's women's national basketball team]] won the silver medal at the 1978 [[South American Basketball Championship for Women]].

=== Stadiums in Bolivia ===

[[File:Hernando Siles Stadium - La Paz.jpg|thumb|230px|[[Estadio Hernando Siles]]]]

For football stadiums in Bolivia, see [[List of football stadiums in Bolivia]]. Indoor stadiums in Bolivia can be found in the table below.
{{row counter|{| class{{=}}"wikitable sortable"
|-
! Rank
! Venue
! Date built
! Capacity
! City
! Image
|-
| _row_count
|[[Polideportivo Evo Morales]]
|2015
|12,000
|[[Quillacollo]]
|
|-
| _row_count
|[[Coliseo Julio Borelli Viterito]]
|1977
|10,000
|[[La Paz]]
|
|-
| _row_count
|[[Polideportivo Garcilazo]]
|2009
|10,000
|[[Sucre]]
|
|-
| _row_count
|[[Polideportivo Héroes de Octubre]]
|2013
|10,000
|[[El Alto]]
|
|-
| _row_count
|[[Coliseo Eduardo Leclere Polo]]
|2000
|10,000
|[[Oruro]]
|
|-
|} }}

==Cuisine==
{{Main|Bolivian cuisine}}

[[Bolivian cuisine]] stems mainly from the combination of [[Spanish cuisine]] with traditional native Bolivian ingredients, with later influences from [[Germans]], [[Italians]], [[Basques]], [[Croats]], [[Russians]], and [[Polish people|Poles]], due to the arrival of immigrants from those countries. The three traditional staples of Bolivian cuisine are [[maize]], [[potatoes]], and [[beans]]. These ingredients have been combined with a number of staples brought by the Europeans, such as [[rice]], [[wheat]], and meat, such as [[beef]], [[pork]], and [[chicken]].

==Music==
{{Main|Music of Bolivia}}
[[File:Niños ejecutando una tarkeada.jpg|thumb|Bolivian children playing the ''[[Tarka (flute)|tarka]]''.]]
Bolivia's regional [[folk music]] is distinctive and varied. In the Andean regions, music is played during the festivals and dances. Some tunes contain strong Spanish influences.

The most common musical instruments are:
* ''[[Siku (instrument)|Sicu]]'' (also ''sicus'')
* ''[[Tarka (flute)|Tarka]]'' or ''[[tharqa]]''
* ''[[Pinkillo]]''
* Skin drums
* Copper bells
* Wood
* [[Guitar]]
* [[Flute]]
* ''[[Zampoña]]''
* ''[[Matraca]]''
* ''[[Mandolina conchera|Mandolina]]''
* [[Charango]]
* ''[[Quena]]''

==See also==
{{portal|Bolivia}}
* [[Architecture of Bolivia]]
* [[Andean culture (disambiguation)|Andean culture]]
* [[Hispanic culture]]
* [[Latin American culture]]
* [[Performing Life, Inc]], [[NGO]]
* [[Lists of stadiums]]

==References==
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://languagecrossing.com/destinations/bolivia/culture_of_bolivia/ Culture of Bolivia (languagecrossing.com)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150211021147/http://www.christusrex.org/www3/ethno/Boli.html Languages spoken in Bolivia]
* [http://www.andes.org/ Culture of the Andes]

{{Bolivia topics}}
{{Latin America topic|Culture of|Latin American culture}}

[[Category:Culture of Bolivia| ]]