The Wall Street Journal has reported on a fascinating battle brewing in the Miss Universe pageant going on in the Bahamas over the right to wear a costume related to La Diablada, a Latin American folk dance that is performed as part of pre-Lenten Carnival and signifies that battle between St. Michael and a pack of Devils. Karen Schwarz, the current Miss Peru, is wearing the costume in the pageant over the strenuous objections of the Bolivian government and citizens, who claim the origin of the dance in the small Bolivian town of Oruro. However, both Peru and Chile claim the tradition of the Devil Dance as well -- and a former Miss Universe from Chile wore the costume way back in 1983 and 1989 during the pageant.
There are parts of this international uproar that are somewhat humorous such as "In a show of support for Ms. Schwarz, some Peruvian lawmakers recently lumbered out of their cubicles and tried performing the whirling devil's dance in front of Peru's Congress." Not to be undone, " A Bolivian expatriate group has scheduled a protest, including a performance of La Diablada, Friday morning in front of the Peruvian embassy in Washington." And it's no wonder that Miss Schwarz, bearing the weight of the 35lb horned headdress, describes her costume as "Diabolically Beautiful." (I wonder if she's planning on intimidating the judges with her whip?)
The Wall Street Journal article offers an interesting history of the ritual -- and also, of course, the economic impact of "owning" such a traditional ritual on tourism. You might also like reading the BBC online's article on the controversy as well.
