Ivón Eliana Muñoz Romero
PERCUSSIONIST
PERU
Ivón is a Peruvian artist and percussionist with more than 15 years of experience in prominent groups such as "Perú Negro" and "NOVALIMA". She is dedicated to promoting spaces for women in music, and also as a teacher of Afro-Peruvian music. As a member of "KIMBAFÁ" and with a multidisciplinary approach, she is a “zapateadora” and performer. Her career has prompted her to found "Peru Mujer", a project led by women. Follow Ivón on Instagram and read more about her work in her own words in the interview below.
Music is a political act and will continue to be so in the new generations. It is our duty to create safe spaces for everyone.Ivón Eliana Muñoz Romero
What role do you think art can play in social change?
I am 100% sure that art will continue to change everything. Music is sometimes the only tool to fight from our artistic position, raising our voice for those who can no longer, or are denied the artistic path in spaces we also have the right to belong to. Music is a political act and will continue to be so in the new generations. It is our duty to create safe spaces for everyone from our positions.
How is your artistic practice is connected to amplifying social movements?
Through my art, I inspire women to dive into music and Afro-Peruvian zapateo. In an authentic experience, I highlight that women can not only participate but also make a living from music. The limited information on women practicing Afro-Peruvian zapateo prevents them from studying and performing, coupled with a lack of support from male counterparts unwilling to share the art with female zapateadoras. I focus on encouraging new generations to embrace their culture and understand it. Providing them with the knowledge they may need to navigate the art, drawing from my experiences with various groups over time. Giving them the push that YES, it is possible to live through the art they choose. Through my platforms, I sparked the interest of over 100 female zapateadoras, artists who believed in me to disseminate information during the pandemic when art was threatened, and the only solution was to keep trying.
What do you hope to achieve through this award?
It will give me the opportunity to continue executing directed and paid projects from my personal platform and "Perú Mujer," a project that has been providing spaces for women making music in all its musical diversity with total freedom for the artists.
Featured work
MUJERES ZAPATEANDO – PERU MUJER
"Women Zapateando" is an initiative aimed at encouraging women artists in Peru to engage in zapateo. It invites collaborations from women developing within and beyond the Afro-Peruvian world, all sharing the common goal of making music.
KIMBAFA ensemble
In 2023, the artist was a performer for a project that represented a significant stage production in Peru. Developed by a cast of 20 female artists committed to gender equality, the fight against violence and femicide, and seeking to preserve and enrich their culture.