kotz´ijan / Florecer

Ri Cholq’ij, rucholajem ri ik’, k’o chi rupam qach’akul, chi rupam ri ik’, chi rupam ri qatz’umal, chi rupam qajolom qawi’, chi rupam qakojolwinaqilem. Ri qajuyu’ taq’aj yeb’iyin chi rixikin ri kojolil, chi ruxikin ri q’ijul, man yetiwïr ta, xa yeb’iyin achi’el ri ya’ pa raqän ya’.

Ri Cholq’ij k’o q’ij q’ij. Ri Cholq’ij nuxïm ri’ chi kojöl ri kajulew achi’el ri rukemik ri qapas, ri pas yejitz’on ruxe’ qapam, ri yeximön richin qamuxu’x richin man ntzaq ta, richin nukunaj ri’ ri loq’olöj rute’ pamaj.

The cholq'ij (lunar calendar) is in our bodies, our moons, our skin, our hair, our blood, our sexuality, our lands, that move together with space and time, that do not freeze but flow like the water of the rivers. Cholq'ij is our everyday life that is interwoven with the cosmos like the fabric of our sashes that bind our navels tightly to support our bellies and allow them to heal.

Ajchowen (Guatemala). Ajchowen ("artist" or "she who makes art" in the Kaqchikel language) is a collective of Mayan women, made up of seven actress-dancers and one Ajq'ij (time-charger). They are from the Maya K'iche', Kaqchickel and Mam linguistic communities, and are accompanied by a mestizo man (Víctor Barillas), a playwright and stage director. To date they have three collective plays and eight individual monologues. Their plays are based on the principles and values of the Mayan cosmovision, and their purpose is to heal consciences, promote culture, the struggle and empowerment of Mayan women, as well as to denounce social problems in their context. They have presented their works in national and international theatre festivals, as well as in various organisations and communities.