Julia Elena Fortún facts for kids

Julia Elena Fortún Melgarejo (born October 9, 1929 – died December 5, 2016) was an important Bolivian researcher. She was a historian, anthropologist, and folklorist. She also studied ethnomusicology, which is the study of music from different cultures. She was a pioneer in this field in Bolivia.

Julia Elena was born in the city of Sucre. But she spent most of her life living in La Paz, another big city in Bolivia. She studied anthropology in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Later, she earned her doctorate in history from the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain. When she returned to Bolivia, she also studied music. She attended the Academia Eduardo Berdecio and the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in La Paz. She passed away in 2016 when she was 87 years old.

Her Important Work

Julia Elena Fortún was known for her deep research. She studied the origins of the famous Bolivian dance called the Diablada. This is a very colorful and traditional dance. She also did important studies in Tiwanaku. This is an ancient archaeological site in Bolivia.

Her work helped people understand Bolivian culture better. She explored the history, traditions, and music of her country. She received several awards for her contributions. These include the National Culture Award in 1989. She also got the "Antonio José de Sucre" Award for Thought and Culture in 2007.

Books She Wrote

Julia Elena Fortún wrote many books. These books shared her research and knowledge. Here are some of her well-known works:

• Música indígena de Bolivia (1947) - This book was about the traditional music of Bolivia's native people.
• Nuestra música folklórica (1948) - This one focused on Bolivia's folk music.
• Manual para la recolección de material folklórico (1957) - This was a guide on how to collect folklore materials.
• La danza de los diablos (1960) - This book was about the "Dance of the Devils" (Diablada).
• La mujer aymara (1964) - This work explored the lives of Aymara women.