Jezebel: Bolivia

Bolivian Female Wrestlers Brawl In Twirling Skirts

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:30:00 EDT

Wrestling may be "fake" -- choreographed, set up, rehearsed, meant as entertainment -- but when you watch these Bolivian chotlitas jumping off of the ropes and flying through the air, it's obvious there's risk -- and talent -- involved. Mike Powell, who was in the audience as these women fought, says that the best fighter was La Loca: More »

350 Couples Married In Colorful Bolivian Mass Wedding

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:30:00 EDT

The Andean mass wedding that happened in La Paz over the weekend — with Bolivian President Evo Morales presiding as best man — was held in a coliseum adorned with white flowers. More »

A Miner Celebration

Lauri Apple — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 16:30:34 EST

[La Paz, Bolivia, Janary 22: Female minders celebrate the fifth anniversary of Bolivia's Evo Morales' government and the first anniversary of his second term in office. Image via AP.]

A Spirited Offering For Spirits Bygone

Katie Luscombe — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 10:14:00 EDT

[La Paz, Bolivia, November 2: Women rest by a tomb decorated with food offerings on Day of the Dead in the Valle de Flores cemetery. Image via AP.]

Female Bolivian Wrestlers Kick Ass In Mamachas Del Ring

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 15:08:00 EDT

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We posted about them before; now the story of bowler-hat-and-petticoat-wearing Bolivian women who wrestle is a documentary making the festival rounds. Says one cholita: "[Men] think because we're women we're weak… but [they're] totally wrong." Trailer after the jump. More »

Safe/Deposit/Box

Anna Holmes — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:10:00 EST

[Tarabuco, Bolivia; December 6. Image via Getty]

Walk Softly, Carry A Big Stick

Anna Holmes — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST

[Tiquina, Bolivia; November 16. Image via Getty]

Hat Trick

Anna Holmes — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:10:00 EDT

[Leganes, Spain; September 13. Image via Getty]

Couture Clash

Katy Kelleher — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:20:00 EDT

A beauty pageant costume has sparked hostilities between Peru and Bolivia. Peru's Miss Universe candidate wore a devil costume and performed the traditional dance La Diablada, which Bolivian officials claim is a rip-off of their culture. [UPI, WSJ] More »

Grin/Dependents Day

Anna Holmes — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:10:00 EDT

[La Paz, July 16. Image via Getty]

In Bolivia, Behind Bars Might Be The Best Place For Kids

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EDT

In Bolivia, more than 1,400 children are currently living with their parents behind bars in that country's prisons. Officials and some parents say that given the alternatives, it might be for the best. More »

Palin, Palin, Palin And That Other Guy, Too

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:30:00 EDT

There are already quotes from the Palin-Gibson confab! She threatens war with Russia, sidesteps the hubris question, and can't blink! It sounds all kinds of fair and balanced and totally not fluffy. Just because they're taking a stroll together doesn't mean it was too chummy.[Mark Ambinder, Mark Ambinder, TV Newser]
But just because ABC is stretching the interview into 5 different news segments doesn't mean they're looking to boost ratings, obviously. The first segment airs tonight during what I like to call "drinking time" and other people consider "dinner time." [LA Times]
In a page from Bush's playbook, Palin conducts state business on a personal email account to avoid disclosure laws, since that worked out so well for the Bush Administration. [Think Progress]
Obama may have been kidding about being a Popular Mechanic centerfold, but they're offering to take him up on it anyway. David Axelrod needs to jump on that shit, like, yesterday, and show the pistol-packin' mama (per Cindy McCain) who's a regular person. [Popular Mechanics]

Ring Leaders

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:10:00 EDT

A tipster sent us this link to a story about cholitas, female wrestlers in Bolivia, who wear petticoats and bowler hats. The slideshow of photographs by Ivan Kashinsky is absolutely stunning; but be sure and read the accompanying article, as well. "Sometimes my daughters ask why I insist on doing this," one cholita says. "It's dangerous; we have many injuries, and my daughters complain that wrestling does not bring any money into the household. But I need to improve every day. Not for myself… but for the triumph of [my wrestling character] Yolanda, an artist who owes herself to her public." [National Geographic] More »

Witch Season

Maria — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:20:00 EDT

This is a busy month for Bolivian "witches," called yatiris by the Aymaras indigenous group in El Alto. August is the month between winter and spring in Bolivia, and thus it is a critical month for farmers. According to the Aymaras, the Earth deities are hungry for offerings during this time, and thus the Aymara people turn to the yatiris to help them make offerings to the gods. Marketplaces are packed with yatiris and saleswomen hawking special offerings like llama fetuses, skunk hides, and porcupine tails but they are also full of other goods from salespeople looking to benefit from the surge of shoppers at the marketplace looking for yatiri goods (sort of like the Black Friday of the Aymara people). The yatiris, however, offer their services for other concerns, like love triangles and financial issues. While other countries in the West, Africa, and Asia may persecute their "witches," the Aymaras respect and support them by employing their spells and charms for their own purposes. [IHT] More »