Whose memory, Lima?

Every January 18th Lima remembers the moment in 1535 when Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, founded the city. To be precise, he founded a place called the City of Kings. Historic accounts mention that some 50 years later most of the new people who had settled there had adopted the indigenous name: Lima. During the XX century, architect Juan Günther became one of the first in trying to widen this foundational narrative that did not fit well with reality. Without the impressive pre-Hispanic system of irrigation canals, he used to say, the colonial city would not have survived. And without it, the city of today would not exist. Or perhaps it would be a totally different one. The fact remains that there is still something that does not fit with the current celebration. It does not feel inclusive. Waves of migration during the last one hundred years have transformed Lima making it – again - an Andean, indigenous place. But where are the memories that represent this diversity? Aren′t cities supposed to embrace their citizens and make them feel part of it? If that is not happening here, whose memory are we keeping alive and what for? It could well be that we need another date to remember the different Limas, the ones that define the urban landscape of today. Partly in reaction to these historic tensions that the Lima Milenaria campaign used to organize a non-professional photo heritage contest every year, open to all citizens. In the last decade, hundreds happily took part sharing their own vision of the city - or were they sharing their own memory of the place? So, this post has no other intention than to introduce you to this vibrant, difficult, vital Lima, my city of origin, through the eyes of my fellow citizens. I hope you will find it as surprising as it is always for me.

Picture gallery: https://www.facebook.com/LimaMilenaria/posts/10158705848020642