Apthapi is a traditional Andean practice, an Aymara word that comes from the word apthapiña ("gathering of the harvest"); it consists of a community gathering where food and reflections on the events that affect the communities are shared. It goes beyond food, promoting fraternisation and pacification. During the Apthapi, knowledge is exchanged, strengthening community ties and preserving ancestral traditions. It is a form of cultural resistance that values solidarity and unity among peoples.

The process of migration can be a complex and emotionally charged experience. Migration involves leaving behind the place we know, our roots and our culture, to face new challenges in an unfamiliar environment. In most cases, migrants may encounter systems and structures that oppress and make integration difficult.

There is a desire to break away from these oppressions and find spaces where we can reconnect with our own identity and voice. Communication becomes a powerful tool to share our experiences, challenge stereotypes and fight against invisibilisation and silencing.

Through internal and collective reflection, we can challenge systems and norms that perpetuate oppression and seek ways to resist and change. Communication from our individual and cultural experiences and perspectives can help raise awareness, promote inclusion and foster empathy.

Cooking is a space for reflection where we can connect with our roots, share stories and bond with our loved ones. In addition, cooking can be a rewarding and liberating experience, where we can express our creativity and love through the food we prepare.

Alejandra Rocabado has had the privilege of cooking with women who keep recipes in their memories. These traditional recipes are true cultural treasures that are passed down from generation to generation, and it is enriching to be able to learn from them and preserve that culinary wisdom.

Alejandra Rocabado Koya / Apthapi - Polysemies of silence 

Collaboration: Sabers migrants- Mitmaq Ediciones  

Production: Alejandra Rocabado, Mitmaq Ediciones, Sabers Migrants 

Assembly support: Alejandra Rocabado, Mitmaq Ediciones, Sabers migrants 

Aknowledgements: Farida, Tomasa y Felicidad 

Alejandra Rocabado (Bolivia, 1987) is a photographer and activist known for her work on resistance, migration, identity, and territory, with an emphasis on minorities. As a photojournalist in Bolivia she was nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass of the World Press Photo Foundation in 2015 and 2016. She is a founder and member of MITMAQ EDICIONES, a collective creation platform that supports migrant photographers in Barcelona. She has also participated in the trade union SINDIHOGAR using photography to support the struggle of domestic workers against institutional racism. Her projects have been published and exhibited in several countries, including Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain and Greece.