The Rabinal Achí (Versión inglés)

 

The Rabinal Achí

The Rabinal Achí is a dance and also a tradition of Mayan origin dating back to the pre-Hispanic era, accompanied by dialogues written in the 19th century that represent a significant literary work of the Mayan culture; this work was preserved in Guatemala. It was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005 by UNESCO, and was inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The original name in the Achí Maya language is: Xajoj Tun, which means Dance of the Tun (drum). It is a dynastic drama of the Kek' Maya dating back to the 15th century, and a rare example of pre-Hispanic traditions. It combines myths of the q'eqchi' people's origin with the political and social relations of the town of Rabinal, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, which are expressed through masks, dance, theater, and music. This drama survived underground from 1625 until 1856, until the French priest Charles Étienne Brasseur de Bourbourg translated it, based on the narrative in Achí provided by Bartolo Sis.

It is a work that dramatizes the rupture of the alliance between the K’ich’e and the Rabinaleb; the work is divided into four acts, the outcome of which is the death of K’iche’e Achí, representing the triumph of the Rabinaleb. The first act is usually the longest.

The oral and written tradition is represented by a group of characters, who appear on a stage depicting Mayan villages, particularly Kajyub’, the regional capital of the Rabinaleb’ in the 14th century. The narrative is divided into four acts and deals with the conflict between two important political entities in the region, the Rabinaleb’ and the K’iche’, as explained by Alain Breton in his book Un drama dinástico maya del siglo XV (A 15th-Century Mayan Dynastic Drama).

The main characters are two princes: the Rabinal Achí and the K’iche Achí. Other characters include: the king of the Rabinaleb’, Job’ Toj, and his servants Achij Mun and Ixoq Mun, who represent man and woman. The mother with green feathers is Uchuch Q’uq’, along with thirteen eagles and thirteen jaguars, who represent the warriors of the Kajyub’ fortress. The K’iche’ Achí is captured and brought to trial for attempting to kidnap children of the Rabinaleb’, a very serious crime in Mayan law.

Content

The Rabinal Achí narrates how the Rabinaleb rebel and separate from the K’iche’s political confederation, when the latter attempted to conquer the valley of Rabinal. The K’iche’s held political dominance over vast regions and peoples at the time.

In the work, K’ich’e Achí, a K’ich’es warrior, is captured by the Rabinaleb warrior, Rabinal Achí, outside Kajyub’, whose dignitary is Job’ Toj; the K’ich’e warrior is judged and sentenced to death. Before being sacrificed, K’ich’e Achí asks to drink the ceremonial intoxicating beverage of the Rabinaleb and to dance with the princess of Kajyub called Uchuch Q’uq’ Uchuch Raxon, “The Mother of the Green Feathers, the Mother of the Blue Feathers”; he also asks for 260 days to say goodbye to his land. Once all these wishes are granted, K’ich’e Achí is sacrificed by the eagle warriors and the jaguar warriors under the command of Rabinal Achí.

The captive is allowed to go and say goodbye to his people. Before his execution, he is granted permission to dance to the rhythm of the tun with the princess of Rabinal and enjoy royal drinks. Today, 500 years later, the Rabinaleb' believe that the spirits of the warriors who died in that battle, who inhabit the surrounding mountains, are also present in the dance.

Current Significance

Since colonization in the 16th century, the Rabinal Achí has been performed during the Rabinal festival on January 25, the day of the Conversion of St. Paul. The festival is coordinated by members of the local brotherhoods responsible for leading the community. By taking part in the play, the living come into contact with the dead (the rajawales), the ancestors who are represented by masks. For the modern-day Achí people of Rabinal, remembering their ancestors is not just about perpetuating ancestral heritage. It is also a vision toward the future, the day when they will reunite with their ancestors.

The Rabinal Achí was selected by the International Red Cross to highlight humanitarian sentiment toward refugees and victims of war.