Ecuador Culture
With a population of approximately 14,573,100, Ecuador possesses an astounding level of cultural and social diversity within its borders. Currently, Ecuador has an ethnically mixed population consisting of 65% mestizo (mixed indigenous - Caucasian), 25% Indigenous, 10% Caucasian, 7% African, and 3% Black. Cultural boundaries are also drawn between the three predominant geographical regions: the Sierra (Andean Highlands), the Costa (Pacific coastal shoreline) and the Oriente (Amazonian basin). The population is divided nearly equally between the Sierra and the Costa, with only about 3% of the population residing in the Oriente.
Ecuador is located in the area which formed the northern Incan Empire prior to Spanish conquest in 1533. The region's indigenous roots and the influences of various pre-Incan civilizations remain evident in present-day society in food, religious customs, music and dress. The mixtures of cultures in Ecuador has also been influenced by later immigration, and one of the most vibrant and dynamic cultural groups to be found in Ecuador are the Afro-Ecuadoreans, descendants of African slaves brought in the 16th century for work on sugar plantations. Numbering approximately 500,00 and located primarily in Esmeraldas Province, the Afro-Ecuadorean population exerts a strong cultural influence over greater Ecuadorian society – whether it be with the distinctive rhythms of its marimba and salsa music, its dance festivals, or the international fame of its soccer players.
By far the largest ethnic group in Ecuador is the Andean Quechua, estimated at around 2 million. The Quechua have preserved their language and cultural traditions to a remarkable degree, and continue to represent a powerful political and social force within broader Ecuadorian society. The distinctive Andean flute music now heard worldwide, foods such as quinoa and cuy (guinea pig), and colorful woolen ponchos and elaborately embroidered blouses are all trademarks of the Quechua culture. Smaller Andean ethnic groups include the Saraguro, Cayambi, Pichincha, Panzaleo, Chimbuelo, Salasacan, Tungurahua, Waranka, Puruhá and the Cañari.
Ecuador possesses an astounding level of cultural and social diversity within its borders...
Although the Amazon basin indigenous groups are much smaller and more dispersed than those of the highlands, they nonetheless represent a rich variety of distinctive cultural traditions and languages. These groups generally share a shamanistic belief-system and a traditional hunter-gatherer subsistence lifestyle, but their specific customs are varied and unique. All of these groups are facing pressures from the outside world in the form of incursion from extractive industries and colonists, but many have fought back against these pressures and have managed to preserve their territories and they retain their traditional lifestyles to a remarkable degree. These groups include the Huaorani, Cofan, Shuar, Achuar, Siona, and Secoya.
Ecuador has a calendar of folkloric events and religious festivals which is as diverse as its population: all major cities have annual festivals in celebration of their founding/independence days, and many smaller towns have events honoring saints and virgins which represent a fascinating fusion of indigenous and Catholic traditions. Major Ecuadorean cultural figures include Jefferson Perez (Olympic gold medalist in speedwalking), Juan Fernando Velasco (singer and songwriter), Oswaldo Guayasamín (painter), Jorge Icaza (novelist), and Sebastian Cordero (filmmaker).
