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Entertainment
esco Cabeza de Vaca to describe spirits. Distillery
has roots in Cuenca. It was founded in 1966. The
product quickly became so popular that the com-
pany installed an industrial distillery to keep up
with demand. Much of the sugarcane used to pro-
duce Zhumir is grown in corporate owned fields in
the valley of Paute in the province of Azuay
6. Other alcoholic beverages available in Ecuador
include guarapo, also made from cane; anisados,
liquor flavored with anis; secos, cheap and flavor-
less alcohol good for mixing; Espíritu del Ecuador,
a fruity, golden liquor; and rompope, a Latin Amer-
ican version of eggnog, often bought pre-spiked
with rum.
MUSIC
Music, the soundtrack of a search
A music box in the center of the world, that takes
you to the party or the wistful introspection. The
music in Ecuador is a mirror of the cross-cultural
and generational reunions. Alex Alvear, Julio Bue-
no, Pablo Valarezo, Santa drone, Daniel Mancero,
Linberg Valencia, Ivis Flies, among others, have
been concerned about finding new possibilities for
music in Ecuador. So these records are a kind of
portable nowhere, reminiscent of the country be-
yond the territory.
NATIVE CULTURES
NATIVE CULTURES (ECUADOR’S MOSAIC)
In Ecuador, mega-diversity is not only its magnifi-
cent biological world, but also the human factor
with its rich ethnic diversity. Despite of the fact
that many of the indigenous cultures adopted
Catholicism imposed by the Spaniards, they still
maintain their original language, dress and artistic
expressions.
THE CULTURES OF THE COAST
The oldest known cultures of America lived on the
Ecuadorian coast (8800 to 3500 B.C.). The cul-
tures that subsist practically intact these days are:
the Awá, the Chachis or Cayapis and the Tsachi-
las or Colorados. They live in the tropical rainfor-
est of the west Andes and possibly settle there
escaping from the invasion of the Incas from Peru
(XV C) or from the Spaniards (XVI C).
THE AMAZONIAN CULTURES
Many archeologists maintain that some of the
oldest cultures (over 10,000 years) are from this
tropical humid rainforest.
According to modern world economical standards,
these cultures are very poor. However, they have
a rich spiritual life and live in peace, taking from
nature only what they need for survival.
THE HIGHLANDS
The cultures of the highlands are by no means
the oldest, but they are the most visited and well
known. Many communities still maintain their cul-
tural manifestations through dress, language and
festivities. These people are hardworking, skillful
and artistic. Families work together and then sell
their work at the fair. These are very proud people
that keep and respect their cultural identity.
Corpus Christi dances in Pujilí Humas devils from Imbabura province