Wawa Pampay (Infant's Funeral), 2007
The photodocumentary depicts Wawa Pampay, an “Infant’s Funeral” that occurred in the community of San Miguel de Motoy, district of Chiara, department of Ayacucho, Peru.
Rosa Cahuana Quispe was only seven months old when she died from pneumonia. The baby´s godfather plays a very important role throughout the funeral ritual. The godfather is responsible to provide the baby´s new clothes for the funeral.
The godfather prepares the altar, a special, decorated chair on which the deceased child will be placed, and then carries it on his shoulders during the procession to the cemetery.
The godfather leads the funeral procession which is followed by the members of the community. Women sing Harawis, a genre of song particular to important events, and, in this case, sing the Wawa Pampay Taky (Infant’s Funeral song).
In the Andes death does not mean a final end for the individual. On the contrary, the deceased remains present and accompanies the family in a parallel environment.
According to the community´s tradition, only the godfather, the child's parents and the oldest/wisest man can participate in the burial ritual. The baby is buried in a little white coffin placed in the Earth, Pacha Mama.
Rosa Cahuana Quispe was only seven months old when she died from pneumonia. The baby´s godfather plays a very important role throughout the funeral ritual. The godfather is responsible to provide the baby´s new clothes for the funeral.
The godfather prepares the altar, a special, decorated chair on which the deceased child will be placed, and then carries it on his shoulders during the procession to the cemetery.
The godfather leads the funeral procession which is followed by the members of the community. Women sing Harawis, a genre of song particular to important events, and, in this case, sing the Wawa Pampay Taky (Infant’s Funeral song).
In the Andes death does not mean a final end for the individual. On the contrary, the deceased remains present and accompanies the family in a parallel environment.
According to the community´s tradition, only the godfather, the child's parents and the oldest/wisest man can participate in the burial ritual. The baby is buried in a little white coffin placed in the Earth, Pacha Mama.