Hay Festival Arequipa 2021

The sociologist and researcher Josefa Sánchez Contreras belongs to the Zoque people of Chimalapas in Mexico. As a researcher, she writes about territorial defence, indigenous rights, the history of rebellions and colonialisms, and is the co-author of the book Colonialismo energético. As an activist she is a part of the Matza Collective, a group of young Zoques, which works to defend the rivers of the Chimalapas forests from extractive opencast mining megaprojects.
In conversation with Alberto Matarán and José Luis Ramos Salinas.

Henry Marsh is an esteemed retired British neurosurgeon and the author of books such as And Finally; Matters of Life and Death, which tells of his own experience as a cancer patient. At this event he will talk about the principles and goals of palliative care, and about the challenges and opportunities that currently exist with regard to access to a dignified death, offering advice and recommendations to help patients and their loved ones face this difficult stage of life with dignity and compassion. In conversation with the BBC journalist Juan Carlos Pérez.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

At this event with the British journalist Emma Graham-Harrison, a doctor and a war correspondent will talk about the present conflict, whose repercussions go beyond the borders of countries and continents. Lindsey Hilsum (United Kingdom) has reported on conflicts and refugee movements in Syria, Mali, Iraq, Palestine, Libya, Kosovo, Afghanistan and, of course, Ukraine. Henry Marsh (United Kingdom) is a renowned former neurosurgeon and author of publishing successes such as Do No Harm and the more recent And Finally. Matters of Life and Death, which tells the story of his experiences as a cancer patient. With a long career in the profession, Henry Marsh is known for having supported the development and practice of neuroscience in the Ukraine.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available

Motivated by their successful experience at the 2022 HFA, at the music and dance workshops run by the Hogar de Cristo, the children and young people involved have created a musical work full of life. They invite us to the opening of El árbol de la queñua es vida. This is a show featuring Huayno music and which will involve the active participation of the audience. In this way, we will celebrate this great tree that represents life. This is a dramatic work that aims to underline all that is good about Mother Earth and remember that there were once queñua forests in the highest areas of Arequipa. By reviving the rituals of our ancestors –who knew well that Mother Earth must be respected and venerated, and understood that dance and music are food for the soul– we can better appreciate the relationship between art and nature. The musical is a call to be aware of the importance of native plants. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the streets of Arequipa were full of trees? Can we not dream of recovering those queñua woods in the city’s upper reaches? Together we can take the first steps to make this dream a reality. We enjoy the Huayno El árbol de la queñua es vida.

Musical director: Américo Martínez

Musical arrangement: Jesús Alberto Gonzales

Choreography and dance: Noemí Rojas Surco

Director of the Hogar de Cristo: Flor Esteban Ninantay

Eley Williams is the author of The Liar’s Dictionary, a novel that in 2021 won a Betty Trask Award and which The Guardian newspaper included on its list of books of the year. In 2023, Williams was selected by the prestigious magazine Granta as one of the best young British novelists. She shares this honour with Carlos Yushimito (Peru), named in 2010 as one of the best young Spanish-language novelists by the same magazine. The author will present his book El peso inevitable de las palomas, with which he returns to the short fiction form that originally brought him to the attention of a wide public. In conversation with Valerie Miles.

This event is part of the Hay Festival and British Council’s Literary Pairs series; each pair will repeat their event at the Hay Festival in Wales in 2024.

Simultaneous interpretation from English to Spanish available