Bolivian Culture

Bolivian culture is very diverse thanks to the differing origins of the Bolivian people. Bolivian society includes people of Spanish origin, descendants of the colonizers, indigenous groups from the Andes and mestizos, those who are a mixture of the two.

Just before the Spanish invasion, parts of Bolivia were incorporated into Inca territory, meaning that some of the indigenous groups, including the Quechua and Aymara people, are descendants of the Incas. The Spanish colonized the area in the 16^th century and suppressed many indigenous traditions and introduced others. Religious arts brought by the Spanish, for example, were later developed by indigenous artists to create unique new styles. In the 20^th century, indigenous traditions started becoming more common again and indigenous languages have been recognized as official languages.

Bolivia is said to be a country yet to be discovered - as the fifth largest country in South America, it has a multitude of different areas and cultures, but there are many of which very little is known. Take a look at this section for more Bolivia facts and information on all aspects of the country’s culture, from food to literature and art to history.