Leonardo Torres Llerena
on translating Ricardo Dolorier Urbano
In Peru, a dictatorship is once again killing people right now. Those who suffer most have been the same for the past five centuries: the Indigenous. This huayno poem by Ricardo Dolorier was created to transform our pain into art and denounce the brutality of the white police, which has been taking place as far back as 1969. Despite the passage of time, systematic violence continues. Still, the people never surrender, and songs like this give us the strength to continue our fight. As soon as I read about the opportunity to submit a translation, I could only imagine creating this one.
about the author
Ricardo Dolorier Urbano was born in Huanta, Ayacucho, a region deeply tied to Peru's cultural and social landscape. He completed his primary and secondary education at the Gonzáles Vigil National School in Huanta. He later pursued a career as a Professor of Language and Literature, graduating from the National University of Education La Cantuta in 1958. Dolorier’s early years as a teacher were spent at Gonzáles Vigil, where he taught and founded an evening program to expand educational access to more students.
Dolorier’s teaching experience and profound empathy for the struggles of his people inspired him to write “Flor de Retama”. This moving piece became emblematic of resistance and social justice, capturing the spirit of Ayacucho’s people and the police brutality and racism. In 1964, he joined the faculty at La Cantuta, where he taught for 25 years until his retirement in 1989. Ricardo Dolorier Urbano remains a significant figure in Peruvian literature and education, and he is celebrated for his dedication to his students and poignant contributions to the national cultural identity. His legacy endures through his writings and his impact on countless students and educators in Peru.
about the translator
Leonardo is a Quechua social advocate from Peru, deeply committed to preserving Indigenous languages and cultural expression and engaged in environmental and social justice activism. He is passionate about bringing our Andean voices, wisdom and cosmovision into global dialogues. His academic background includes a BSc in Industrial Engineering, an MSc in Political Science and Government, and an MSc in Urban Regeneration. He speaks Spanish, Quechua, English and Italian.
