Street musicians from far-away Latin America reached the Russian remote regions and share their enchanting tribal melodies. The pan flute and the samponio, wind instruments, are sounding enticingly and the musicians wearing colourful ponchos and feather decorations are dancing in tune. And people are putting coins in the hat to buy them a ticket home.
Quechua people consider themselves the direct ancestors of ancient Incas. The main part of their tribe lives in Otavalo, a small town not far from the Ecuador's capital. The soils near the foot of a dormant volcano are fertile, however not all indigenous people live off growing sugar cane, corn, vegetables and citrus crops. Those who have musical skills become rambling musicians. The ethnic musicians we met in one of Kursk streets have been performing in the countries of South America and Europe for two decades. But this is their first tour in Russia.
"We came to Russia for two months and already played in Moscow and Oryol, then we plan to go to Rostov-on-Don," Jose Cordoba says. "First of all, this trip is intended for Russians to get familiar with our national culture because it didn't vanish, nor did vanish indigenous people and if we are lucky we will earn some money." Jose came with his spouse and three cousins. His old friend Ernesto Aguilaro plays the pan flute, but in general, it is a family band what is reflected in their name Yawar Wayquy that translates from the indigenous language as "Fraternal Blood".
46-year-old Jose sees his brothers often, though he has worked in the Netherlands almost half of his life. It is all the same trade – he plays the guitar and a traditional Indian instrument called charango, while his wife Elena makes traditionally styled jewellery. Though the woman with the name sounding so familiar to every Russian speaker didn't utter a single Russian word, her protective amulets "dream catchers" (an indigenous talisman that protects from evil spirits), kerchiefs and bracelets will catch Russian women's attention no less than the Latin music.
