Hi everyone,
My name is Rosnel Leyva-Cortes from the LASA. This is the first of a series of posts for the month of September that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. Each day we’ll a feature a new country from Latin America that received Independence and a brief overview of its influence in the world.
September 18th is the Independence day of Chile. Chile was a Spanish colony until 1810, a time where Spain and France had been contesting for power in Europe. The French occupation of Spain in 1808 left the country unable to stop unrest in its colonies. This, along with the corrupt governing body of the Chilean colony, lead to an eventual revolt of Spanish rule in 1810.
One of Chile’s most notable contributions to the world is its distinct dance and musical culture. The Cueca is a national dance that was created during the rule of the Pinochet regime in 1970. The dance and accompanying music were meant as a symbol of national pride, though in 1980 such forms of expression were adopted by political activist groups and protestors in their demonstrations.
We hope that this post has been informative and that you tune in tomorrow!