La etnia montubia y su relación con el banano, estudio de caso en el barrio Lira de Oro, cantón Pasaje

Abstract

The present ethnography discusses the relationship between banana production and its influence on the construction of the montubio ethnic group. This is possible thought bibliographic, archival, ethnographic and field research, from February 2017 to April 2018, in the rural neighborhood Lira de Oro, located south of the Ecuadorian coast. In this location, due to its obvious features and cultural heritage, the habitants could be considered montubios, although not all consider themselves as such. The first chapter is an introduction to the neighborhood and its history, focusing on the working day of harvesting and packaging of organic bananas for exportation. The second chapter deals with the self-identification of the habitants with the montubio ethnic group as well as the relationship of the concept "montubio" has with banana production and with the daily life of the neighborhood. The last chapter is dedicated to viewing and understaning the ideas, prejudices and claims of the montubio in the country and how this may or may not be used as an ethnic strategy. To conclude, ethnicity is a strategy for communities to reach specific claims, but this does not always happen either because of fleeing prejudice, not finding economic benefits, or thinking culture as anachronistic. It is also stated that it is not only the montubio culture entangled around the work in agriculture, but also the precarious labor, and the quality of life that it implies, keeping montubios, throughout the last century, between the pejorative stereotype and the romanticization or heroification of the exploited peasant.