Cultural Diversity of Ecuador's People
The Cultural and Ethnic Diversity of the People of Ecuador
Aug 19, 2008
Most of the peoples who inhabit Ecuador today can trace their heritage to European or indigenous ancestors. Long before the Spaniards set foot in this part of the world, there was definite tribal organization among the indigenous peoples, but most tribes had been conquered by the Inca Empire prior to the Spanish conquest. In this mix, is also blended Afro-Ecuadorians descended from African slaves that were transported to the Pacific Coast region by European slave-traders.
Ecuador’s cultural diversity
After the Spaniards conquered the Incas and the native tribes, colonization commenced. Through unions between the Spanish and indigenous people, new lineages originated. Today, Ecuador’s population is composed of the various indigenous groups, the whites (of more pure Spanish descent), the mestizos (descended from unions between Europeans and the indigenous peoples), the Afro-Ecuadorians (primarily living on or near the coast), and the descendents of more recent immigrants.
When examining Ecuador’s population of around 12.6 million, the percentages of the primary cultures represented can be estimated as follows: approximately 55% are mestizo, 25% indigenous, 10% causcasian, 9% are of African descent, and 1% fall into the “none of the above” category.
Ecuador’s indigenous peoples
Acknowledging various indigenous groups in Ecuador there is conflicting information, but between eleven and fifteen ethnic groups can be identified as still existing in one part of the country or another. The largest group is the Quichua, numbering more than 2 million. While they speak Spanish, they also still speak the language bearing the same name. The Quichua language is the one the Incas utilized throughout their empire. Quichua people live in the highlands as well as the lowlands. Considerable numbers of Quichua are believed to have fled the mountains to the coast or jungle when the Conquistadors prevailed.
In the highlands, in addition to the Quichua, live the Otavaleños, the Salasacas, and the Saraguros. Within the realm of the rainforests, live the lowland Quichua, the Huaorani, Zaparo, Cofán, Siona-Secoya, Shuar, and Achuar. Also, in the coastal regions live the Cuaiquers (also known as the Awa), the Cayapas (or Chachis), and the Colorados (who prefer to be known as the Tsáchilas) .
Ecuador’s population distribution
While the country’s population is dispersed within the four major geographic regions, there are more substantial numbers along the coast and within the highlands. There is only around 17,000 people living on the Galapagos Islands, but approximately 600,000 people are scattered throughout Ecuador’s rainforest. So, the rest (nearly 12 million people) live within the other two regions. About 5.5 million live in the highlands and Andes mountains, and estimates of 6.5 million live along the Pacific coastline.
Within the last few decades, large numbers of indigenous migrants have moved from outlying, rural areas to find work in the cities. Now, the two largest cities, Guayaquil (about 2.5 illlion people) and Quito (about 2 milllion people), Ecuador’s capital city, are primarily populated by a mix of peoples of different races. The cities have become cultural melting pots.
However, despite the intermingling within the cities, each ethnic group strives to maintain its own identity and traditions. Many groups have retained their beliefs and myths and their ways of life. Fortunately, it is possible to discover many of them in their traditional homelands by arranging a tour of the specific area.
Sources
Morrison, Marion. Ecuador. New York: Children’s Press, a Division of Grolier Publishing Co., Inc., 2000.
Foley, Erin L. and Jermyn, Leslie. Cultures of the World: Ecuador, Tarrytown, New York: Michael Cavendish Benchmark, 2006.
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