The start of the Hay Festival this afternoon in Arequipa.Juan Santy Cusiatan
Arequipa, the city of cobbled hills and colonial aura that coexists with three volcanoes, hosts for the ninth time the Hay Festival, the famous intellectual gathering that has captivated the world for 36 years. This Thursday afternoon, at the Mario Vargas Llosa Regional Library, this mega event began with 145 guests from 15 countries and more than a hundred activities until Sunday November 12th. “This experience is a journey: choose the destination and airline of your choice, because we guarantee you an unforgettable flight piloted by exceptional guests,” said Ángela Delgado, development director of the Hay Festival Arequipa, in her speech.
And the truth is not missing: the Madrid writer and poet Pilar Adón stands out, recent winner of the National Narrative Prize for her work Of Animals and Birds; the Portuguese storyteller and playwright Gonçalo M. Tavares, considered one of the most original voices in contemporary literature; the Mexican Guillermo Arriaga, renowned screenwriter who sees himself as a film writer, and several others. The Peruvian literary shortlist includes Rafael Dummett and his award-winning novel El spy del Inca; Among others, Karina Pacheco, National Literary Prize 2022 for her novel El Año del Viento and Gustavo Rodríguez, Alfaguara Novel Prize 2023.
The opening ceremony was attended by Briton Julie Finch, executive director of the Hay Festival, who is visiting Arequipa for the first time. “This part of the world, the southern hemisphere, is really important to us. We firmly believe in the bridge that culture creates as a factor of understanding between regional, national and international communities.” For his part, Alejandro Alvargonzález, Ambassador of Spain to Peru, emphasized the power of words and the need for a comprehensive dialogue with those who think differently. “We understand the word as a fundamental tool for getting closer to others. Fundamental, because sometimes a negotiation is dead from the start, but the mere fact of sitting with someone is an end in itself. And that is what we must strive for in these festival days,” he said.
The menu of the Hay Festival Arequipa 2023 promises diversity: the dilemmas of artificial intelligence, technological manipulation and the connection between power and technology are addressed by the Spanish writer Marta Peirano; The endless conflict in the Middle East that is gripping the world is touched on by the Chilean of Italian-Palestinian origin Lina Meruane, author of the book Palestine in Pieces; Lawyer Humberto de la Calle, head of the peace process in Colombia, will also have his place. The widespread social discontent throughout most of Latin America is discussed by the director of EL PAÍS América, Jan Martínez Ahrens, together with Jaime Saavedra, the former Peruvian Minister of Education, and the political scientist Alberto Vergara, author of Republics Defrauded.
As usual, this ninth edition in Arequipa has not lost sight of the entire audience and will include the Hay Joven for school children and the university community, as well as the Hay Festivalito for children. In addition, it was suggested to have a social dimension and to work on future projects with the Arequipa High Performance School as well as with the inmates of Socabaya Prison.
The cultural offer includes the outstanding contribution of the Colombian Andrea Echeverri, a figure that goes beyond the music of Los Aterciopelados. Spanish flautist María Toro will also be on stage, supported by her jazz fusion quartet. And as for the national artists, there will be a tribute to the Quechua language by Cusco translator Jorge Alejandro Ccoyllurpuma and Lenin Tamayo, creator of Q-Pop, a revolutionary melody inspired by South Korean K-Pop. Wiphalas deserves a mention for “Memory,” a visual project based on the testimonies of the relatives of the fatal victims and injured who marched against the government of President Dina Boluarte.
Cristina Fuentes La Roche, international director of the Hay Festival, urged the public to take advantage of the event and participate en masse. “Literature allows us to delve into human complexity, and this festival offers us the space to do this together. If we as a society are unable to imagine alternative futures, we will never be able to change the dominant narratives. “Imagination is the first step to change,” he said. There are intense days ahead of us at the foot of Misti.