Sounds of the Andes: A Journey Through Highland Peru with Rafo Nunjar

In this episode, we journey into the rich musical and cultural tapestry of Highland Peru with self-taught musician Rafo Nunjar Tovar. From the traditional sounds of the Andes to the vibrant celebrations that connect communities with their land, Rafo shares his insights on the significance of music, instruments, and rituals in Andean culture. Join us as we explore the interplay between sound, memory, and social justice, highlighting the voices that resonate through the mountains and valleys of Peru. Support the Podcast via PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url For an extended interview and other benefits, become an EcoJustice Radio patron at https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio Resources/Articles: Rupestre - by Rafo Nunjar: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lUG8s77dfRZ6p-HlWjh2brGCboate2rUM&si=HbRwEJftxLMSiROj Rafo Nunjar Tovar [https://rafonunjar.bandcamp.com/album/rupestre] is a self-taught musician, composer, sound researcher and instrument builder. Born on the Peruvian coast and raised by Andean grandparents, his artistic work explores the traditional music of Peru, the soundscape and the relationship between sound, territory and memory. He began his journey in music and instrument construction in 2011, developing since then a search focused on the expressive and contemporary possibilities of traditional and pre-Hispanic sounds. His work understands music as a living practice, linked to natural cycles, community life and the forms of perception present in Andean and Amazonian cultures. He has participated in performances, sound installations and audiovisual projects, collaborating in the music of the documentaries Tulpud (2014), El arte de Parir (2023-2024) and Willka Aya Yakuwasi (2024). He also participated as a collector of traditional songs in the communities of Accha Alta and Huilloc within the Yuyaq project and the pilot program Todos Cantamos de Kukuy!, also editing the collected audios. In 2024 he released Rupestre, his first studio album, entirely composed and performed by himself, focused on acoustic exploration, traditional instruments and the creation of sound landscapes of Andean root. He is the founder and owner of the Museum of Traditional Instruments Paccha, in Urubamba; a managing member of the festival Cordas y Sirenas, dedicated to research and visible rituals associated with stringed instruments and sirens in the Peruvian Andean south; and a founding member of Kukuy, an association focused on the collection and preservation of traditional songs from Cusco. In parallel, since 2012 he has been directing spaces and workshops linked to sound, listening and collective exploration. Jack Eidt is an environmental journalist, urban theorist and designer, and advocate for the wild, as well as award-winning fiction writer. He is Co-Founder of SoCal 350 Climate Action and Executive Producer of EcoJustice Radio. He writes for a PBS SoCal Artbound project called High & Dry [https://www.pbssocal.org/people/high-dry]. He is also Founder and Publisher of WilderUtopia [https://wilderutopia.com], a website dedicated to the question of Earth sustainability, finding society-level solutions to environmental, community, economic, transportation and energy needs. He also publishes articles and podcasts on Substack [https://jackeidt.substack.com/]. Podcast Website: http://ecojusticeradio.org/ Podcast Blog: https://www.wilderutopia.com/category/ecojustice-radio/ Support the Podcast: Patreon https://www.patreon.com/ecojusticeradio PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=LBGXTRM292TFC&source=url Featured Music Rafo Nunjar - Rupestre Executive Producer and Host: Jack Eidt Engineer: Blake Quake Beats Show music: Jack Eidt and Blake Quake Beats Episode 286 Photo credit: Rafo Nunjar