The true story of “Flor de retama”, song performed by Martina Portocarrero

The voice that accompanied the life of a people. According to recorded historical data, Ayacucho was one of the poorest regions, as well as being the scene of the struggle of a large number of students, workers and peasants who demonstrated for free education, which remains in force to this day. Against this background, the agrarian reform imposed by Juan Velasco Alvarado in 1969 was presented, causing mixed opinions. Land reclamation was not the cornerstone of their claims, as they faced a more damaging event, inequality.

In the same year, the presidency made Law No. 14693 official, which affected the education system, detailing that students who registered unapproved courses had to pay 100 soles per subject. This decision caused protests to take place, demanding fair treatment. The repression and clash with law enforcement forces left 30 dead in Ayacucho, and maintained uncertainty in Huanta. With what happened, the law was repealed after two days.

Professor Ricardo Dolorier was responsible for composing a song that reflected the social struggle for equality. This is how the graduate of La Cantuta and without having experience with musical instruments performed a piece of music. He managed to gather information about what happened in Huanta, events that inspired him for the creation of “La flor de retama”, a wayno of protest.

The purpose of this composition was to be a hymn that can be sung against repression. It was wrongly related to the genocidal Abimael Guzmán, leader of Shining Path, to whom they attributed the lyrics and intonation of the song. Although there were several groups that gave voice to the message, it gained notoriety under the interpretation of Martina Portocarrero.

Present at the 1991 Barrios Altos massacre. Taken as a reference to public reports, a misinformation generated a tragedy. “It was not possible to identify which of the two polladas was that of the Shining Path, but the order was given... The first ones who came in had liquor so as not to attract attention and were dancing. But Martin Rivas was pushing, until the folks on the first floor played a song by Martina Portocarrero, 'La Flor de Retama'. We had been informed that this song was an apology for hiking.”

A recent scandal was starred by Milagros Leiva, who made the same mistake of linking Dolorier's composition to terrorism. In response, the Municipality of Huamanga said: “The emblematic song was written in homage to the martyrs of free education, the Huamanguina commune distributed bouquets of this representative flower to the population. Rejecting the claims of the journalist, who said it was sung by terrorists. Our culture and identity must be respected as it should be. It is part of our culture, of our history, of our struggle for education. We must emphatically point out that Ayacucho is not a terrorist, it is a land of culture, a land of independence from Peru.”

About the broom flower: The intense yellow color and its stem almost three meters high allow it to be seen from afar. In October, its petals, branches and even its roots are used in the making of the classic carpets for the procession of the Lord of Miracles. The best season to see it is spring, as it is in its flowering season in Loreto, Amazonas and Junín.

LYRICS OF THE SONG FLOR DE RETAMA

Everyone come and see

Oh, let's see!

Come and see brothers

Oh, let's see!

In the Plaza de Huanta,

Yellow broom flower,

Yellowish, yellowing

Broom flower.

Where the blood of the people,

There, it spills;

Where the blood of the people,

There, it spills;

It blooms right there

Yellow broom flower,

Yellowish, yellowing

Broom flower.

By Five Corners they are,

The Sinchis are coming in.

They're going to kill students

Huantinos at heart,

Yellowish, yellowing

Broom flower;

They're going to kill peasants

Huantinos at heart,

Yellowish, yellowing

Broom flower.

The blood of the people

It has a rich perfume;

The blood of the people

It has a rich perfume;

It smells like jasmines, violets,

Geraniums and daisies;

Gunpowder and dynamite.

It smells like jasmines, violets,

Geraniums and daisies;

Gunpowder and dynamite

Carajo!

Gunpowder and dynamite!

¡Ay, carajo!

Gunpowder and dynamite!