Revitalize Shipibo Language through Radio Program

Axénon Ikánwe will be celebrating two years this November 13th!!!

We want to share a bit of how we started and what we are up to currently.

The Beginning...

Axenón Ikánwe was born from the chance opportunity of a prime timeslot opening up on the most listened to radio station for news in the Shipibo-Konibo language; 100.1 La Primerísima. For years now, there have been a series of 4 different hour-long programs that begin at 5pm and run till 9pm, Monday through Friday, collectively known as Non Jói 'Our Language'. Ranin Koshi arrived at one of our early Non Jói Kóshi Ákaibo meetings excited to share that he had been called by the radio station director who informed him that the 8-9pm timeslot would be available mid-November if he wanted it. FM Radio programs continue to be the most accessible and preferred choice for local news in all Shipibo-Konibo communities. The decision to rent the timeslot was nearly automatic and Ranin Koshi, who has years of radio experience, already had a plan. On November 13^th, Ranin Koshi, along with fellow Non Jói Kóshi Ákaibo colleagues, Janis Percy Cruz Maldonado (Inin Yoi) and his wife Ketty Gonzalez de Cruz (Metsá Jisbe), went live and Axenón Ikánwe was born.

Two years later...

Their successes have gained much attention from the government through the Ministry of Culture and academics in and outside of Peru. Program co-director Metsá Jisbe was formally invited to share our inspiring success at the 2nd International Congress on Revitalization of Indigenous and Minoritized Languages, October 1st-4th in Brasilia, Brazil, hosted by The National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute of Brazil (IPHAN) and the University of Brasilia. To complement this conference, she also shared her experiences at the 1st International Encounter about Indigenous Language Diversity: exchange of experiences and safeguarding strategies.

Also, Ranin Koshi just took part in the Regional Congress of Indigenous Languages in Latin America and the Caribean. This multiday conference took place in Cusco, Peru with 1600 participants from 16 countries.

There they had the opportunity to share their experiences on international stages and learn from advocates of other Indigenous Amazonian languages. We really do learn together; axenón ikánwe!

Please help us celebrate 2 years of incredible and important Indigenous language maintenence and regeneration work by making a small recurring donation so we can continue learning together throughout 2020!

Irake (thank you)!