Marimba: How Guatemalas National Instrument Is A Symbol Of Resistance

Guatemala has a long and sometimes violent history that can still be seen throughout its culture today. Despite the hardships that they face, the Mayans are proud of their resistance. For them, the continued use of a musical instrument known as a marimba is a show of strength for their culture.

Guatemalan indigenous groups suffer rampant discrimination

Indigenous Mayans make up around 40 percent of the country’s population, but their culture has been under attack since the Spanish colonizers arrived around 500 years ago. Since then, they have weathered the storm of violence, discrimination, and even alleged genocide at the hands of the Guatemalan government. And yet despite the hardships that they face, the Mayans are proud of their resistance. For them, the continued use of a musical instrument known as a marimba is a show of strength for their culture.

Proud to maintain use of marimba

Musical instruments are important to each and every culture in which they are used. For example, the guitar is beloved in Spain due to its use in the flamenco. However few countries place such an importance on their musical instruments as a defiant expression of culture in the face of repression as the marimba in Guatemala.

Ongoing struggle for Mayan groups

The Mayan population in Guatemala continues to protest against infrastructure projects that affect their ancestral lands, discrimination, and other injustices in the Central American country. At the same time, the marimba offers the community a chance to express an important part of their culture and show that they won’t be dominated, no matter how hard some people might try.

You can hear the marimba in some traditional restaurants in Guatemala City and Antigua, or during celebrations across the country. It’s often played by two or more people at once, due to the number of keys available and the size of the instrument itself.

Make sure to keep your eyes and ears out for it on your next visit to the country.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.