The great-great-grandfather in the shade of the leader. Testimonial effects and shortcomings of Mier’s voice in Orlando Fals Borda’s El presidente Nieto

https://doi.org/10.25058/20112742.40

Jafte Dilean Robles Lomelí
jr1424@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University, USA

Abstract:

This paper explores the resources of testimonial literature, as coined by participating action research approach, and how they are reflected in the second volume of Historia doble de la costa, by Colombian social scientist Orlando Fals Borda. Through an analytic comparison between Fals Borda’s imputation and the aesthetic scaffolding provided by testimonials, Adolfo Mier’s essential features —the great-great-grandfather in the story, even though he is made up of manifold peasant voices— as a persona are outlined. Adolfo Mier’s persona is central in this second volume, and can be thought of as a symbol of peasant struggle and/or as a vehicle to rebuild Costeño identity.

Keywords: Testimonial literature, imputation, collective voices, political awareness, peasant knowledge.