Spanish historian proposes mestizaje and music as pillars of integration in the Missions

27 April, 2026

The Spanish historian gave a master lecture within the framework of the International Festival of Renaissance and Baroque American Music ‘Missions of Chiquitos’.

As part of the International Festival of American Renaissance and Baroque Music “Misiones de Chiquitos,” organized by the Association for Art and Culture (APAC), the National Vida Segura Foundation made it possible for Spanish historian, essayist, and professor María Elvira Roca Barea to visit the country. Her work has fueled debate on how the history of the Hispanic world is interpreted.

The keynote lecture took place at the facilities of Grupo Nacional Seguros and was attended by José Luis Camacho Miserendino, president of the Foundation; Julio César Caballero Moreno, executive director; Percy Añez Castedo, head of APAC; as well as ecclesiastical and academic authorities, artists, university professors, historians, and interested members of the public.

The event was held in two sessions. In the first, titled “Diverse Systems of Integration in the Habsburg Period: The Reductions,” she addressed the different forms of organization that promoted mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing) and the integration of Amerindian populations in the Americas. The analysis provided insight into the origin, development, and scope of the reductions as a social and cultural model.

Roca Barea argued that mestizaje forms the basis of identity in the region, resulting from the convergence of European and Indigenous cultures that gave rise to new societies. In this context, she highlighted the case of the Jesuit Missions of Chiquitos for their continued relevance and legacy, especially in the musical field. “We don’t know how much of Chiquitos’ musical heritage was lost. But from what remains, it’s clear it was extraordinary,” she stated.

In the second session, “The Music of the Bolivian Viceregal Baroque as a Meeting of Civilizations,” she analyzed the role of music as a tool for integration. According to her, this language helped overcome linguistic barriers and facilitated processes of teaching and cultural transmission. “The Jesuits used music as a system of communication: to teach, to celebrate, and also to share pain,” she concluded.

Roca Barea’s participation adds to the academic and cultural activities accompanying this new edition of the festival, strengthening its role as a meeting point for the analysis and promotion of the region’s historical and musical heritage.