ELÍAS CAUREY CAUREY
Elías Caurey Caurey( b. 1977, Charagua, Bolivia) is a prominent Guaraní intellectual. A sociologist, anthropologist, and poet, he uses words as a bridge between culture and nature. In 2019, he represented the Indigenous Peoples in Latin America and the Caribbean at UNESCO. He is the author of over twenty publications on Guaraní language, culture, and spirituality. His most renowned works are: Yayandu Ñeere( Feeling the word)( 2018), a bilingual poetry collection that was awarded the Eduardo Abaroa Plurinational Prize; Ñeepoti Kaa Peguarä( Song to the forest)( 2020); and the Diccionario etimológico y etnográfico de la lengua Guaraní hablada en Bolivia( An etymological and ethnographic dictionary of the Guaraní language spoken in Bolivia)( 1993), part of the Bicentennial Library of Bolivia.
Caurey Caurey tells us of the algarrobo or carob, a tree sacred to the Guaraní and a symbol of life and communion. People come together in its shade to debate and share knowledge. The carob provides shelter to birds and people alike, becoming a space for collective reflection. Caurey Caurey’ s audiovisual poetry rescues this bond and reminds us of the value of mutual care among living beings.
His work is also notable for helping to revitalize the Guaraní language, which he defends through poetry. By using the original language in his artistic creations, Caurey Caurey reaches a wide range of Guaraní communities in Bolivia and Paraguay.( ELVIRA ESPEJO AYCA)
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