Cultural Incongruity

This band, composed of indigenous people from Peru, performs often on Bogotá's plazas, such as here in Las Nieves. They play traditional music from the Andes - so why do they dress like Plains Indians from North America?

They do it for a simple reason: "We get more tips this way," a bandmember once told me.

He explained that a friend had shipped them the costumes.

Sadly, even native North Americans exploit these stereotypical images. I once visited an American Indian reservation in the Carolinas. In the souvenir shops - often owned by outsiders - they sold things decorated with images of the Plains Indians.

This little girl was moving to the music. 

Andean music CDs. I didn't see any Sioux music here. 

By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours