Proposals by Paul Zumthor and Margit Frenk for the Construction of Afro-Peruvian Identity Through Performance in the Work of Victoria Santa Cruz

Abstract

This essay examines selected poems by Victoria Santa Cruz, the Afro-Peruvian composer and activist widely recognized as the mother of Afro-Peruvian dance and theater. Her work significantly reshaped how the Afro-Peruvian community on the continent constructs identity and fosters acceptance. Through an analysis of three poems—"Ven a mi encuentro" (Come to Meet Me), "Pa' goza con el ritmo del tambó" (To Enjoy the Rhythm of the Drum), and "Me gritaron negra" (They Called Me Black)—this study identifies the defining elements of her identity construction, from her choice of words to the accompanying musical arrangements. It illuminates the artistic process that underpins her ability to portray a culture and its challenges. Crucially, the essay emphasizes performance as a vehicle for sharing emotional experience and restoring orality to its rightful place within the literary tradition.