Valicha - A Song in Quechua From Cusco (Qosqo) Peru

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June 24th is the celebration of Inti Raymi, a festival that dates back to Incan times and is held in Cusco, Peru. To celebrate, we are sharing one of the most iconic songs from Peru, a huayno (type of song from Peru) titled "Valicha". Since both Into Raymi and Valicha are associated with Cusco (Qosqo) the center of Tawantinsuyo, or the Incan empire, we are sharing this song and a bit of it's background now.
The language in this song is Quechua. It was the spoken language of the Incan empire and can be heard throughout Peru as well as in parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. The scene in the video looks very much like the little town where Valicha was born and lived her life.
You can stream this song on Spotify, here: open.spotify.c...
What Does "Valicha" Mean?
Valicha is the nickname of a pretty young woman from the town of Acopia, Peru near Cusco. Her first name was Valeriana, but it was shortened to Valicha. Her full name was Valeriana Huillca Condori.
Who Wrote Valicha?
The song Valicha was written by one of Valicha's many admirers whose name was Miguel Angel Hurtado. Miguel was the son of a wealthy landowner in Valicha's home town and - as children - they became fast friends and then a secret crush. When they were young, people would see them heading out to the countryside where Miguel would play his violin and Valicha would dance or sing.
Is Valicha A Love Song?
Not exactly. Although Miguel and Valicha fell in love, they came from two different social classes at a time when that was not accepted. Also, Miguel was sent away to school in a town called Sicuani and then to the capital city of Lima to go to the University. As time passed, Valicha realized that their love could never become a reality and she chose another young man. Miguel was devastated and wrote this snarky and slightly bitter song about her. It is said that Valicha heard the lyrics sung in a song contest in Cusco and wasn't bothered by them but took it all with a good sense of humor.
What Happened to Miguel and Valicha?
Sadly, Miguel died at age 29 due to an accident but Valicha went on to live a simple life in her hometown of Acopia. Because she was a famous folkloric character, she was frequently visited by tourists and journalists. When she appeared at festivals and concerts in her area, she was warmly welcomed and received standing ovations, sometimes singing a cappella in her native Quechua. In her old age, she was still a beautiful woman and was honored with the title: "illustrious daughter of Acopia".
Valeriana passed away in 2014 but her legacy as a strong and self-determining Andean woman lives on in this song.