FlyBal Blog#3 I will fly away like balsa’s cotton

The Cultural Symbolism of Balsa

Balsa, due to its cotton-like seeds is a very expansive species. It is designed in such a way that its seeds fly with the wind, since they have a cotton-like cover that protects and helps them spread.  Because of it’s cotton, one of its scientific names is lagopus (rabbit footed).  

However, for the Kichwa communities of  Rio Bobonaza it also has a culturally symbolic dimension: it is the traveller, the traveller who flies away but also comes back, as it is described in the lyrics of the song WAMBURINCHIMI, by Amazonian Kichwa group Ikara. The introduction is sung by Narcisa Gualinga and  was recorded during my fieldwork. The lyrics are translated into Spanish by Ikara member ,and Narcisa’s son, Yaku Viteri Gualinga.

Kichwa Amazónico Letras (Grupo Musical IKARA)

SHUK, ISHKAY, QUIMSA, CHUSKU- WAMBURINCHIMI

KUNANMI KALIARIN KUNAMI

KUNANMI PAKTARIN KUNANMI

KUNAGA YARI, KUNANGAYA

BALSA PUTUSHINA WAMBURINGARAUNI

PUYU WASHATAMI WAMBURINGARAUNI

KUNANGA YARI KUNANGA YA

KARULIAKTATAMI RIJUNI, KUTI PUNCHAGA SHAMUSHAMI

Letras en Castellano (traducidas por Yaku Viteri Gualinga)

UNA, DOS, TRES CUATRO, VOLAMOS

AHORA EMPIEZA, AHORA SI

AHORA SE HIZO REALIDAD, AHORA SI

AHORA SÍ, AHORA SI

VOY A VOLAR COMO EL ALGODÓN DE LA BALSA

VOLARÉ SOBRE LAS NUBES

AHORA SÍ, AHORA SI

VOY A PUEBLOS LEJANOS, ALGÚN DIA VOLVERÉ

Lyrics in English (translation Leonidas Oikonomakis)

One, two, three, let’s fly

It begins now, now yes

it is true now, now yes

now yes, now yes

I will fly like balsa’s cotton

I will fly in the clouds

Now yes, now yes

I am going to faraway communities, one day I’ll be back

Balsa Cotton, Foto: Leonidas Oikonomakis

Versi in Italiano (Leonidas Oikonomakis)

Uno, due,tre, si vuola

si comincia hora, si comincia hora

adesso e vero, adesso si

adesso si, adesso si

Voleró come il cotone di balsa

Voleró  sulle nube

Adesso si, adesso si

vado a comunite lontane, un giorno torneró

Στίχοι στα ελληνικά (Λεωνίδας Οικονομάκης)

Ένα, δυο, τρία , πετάμε

ξεκινάει τώρα ,τώρα ναι

τώρα είναι αλήθεια, τώρα ναι

τώρα ναι, τώρα ναι

Θα πετάξω σαν το βαμβάκι της μπάλσα

Θα πετάξω στα σύννεφα

Τώρα ναι, τώρα ναι

θα πάω σε κοινότητες μακρινές,

μια μέρα θα γυρίσω

Balsa seed within cotton
Foto: Leonidas Oikonomakis

Α la memoria de Wayna Viteri Gualinga

In memory of Wayna Viteri Gualinga