Women of Sound: Aimé Painé

Episode Summary

In this episode of Womanica titled "Women of Sound: Aimée Paine," we delve into the life and legacy of Aimée Paine, a woman whose journey is a testament to resilience, cultural revival, and the power of music. Born in 1943 into the Mapuche and Tehuelche community in Rio Negro, Argentina, Aimée faced challenges from the outset. Due to Argentinian laws at the time, her indigenous name was not recognized, leading her to be legally named Olga Elisa Painé. At the tender age of three, Aimée was sent to an orphanage, marking the beginning of a life distanced from her family, community, and culture. Despite these early hardships, Aimée found solace and identity in music. Her talent and passion for singing led her to be adopted by a couple who nurtured her musical abilities, eventually moving to Buenos Aires to join the National Polyphonic Choir in 1973. However, it was her deep longing to connect with her Mapuche heritage that truly shaped her path. Aimée embarked on a mission to reclaim her indigenous roots, traveling across Argentina and Chile to collect songs, folklore, and teachings from indigenous communities. She learned from the community grandmothers about Mapuche music and ceremonial songs known as ta'il, which she recorded and later incorporated into her performances. Aimée's work was revolutionary. She sang in the Mapuche language, Mapudungun, and dressed in authentic indigenous clothing, transforming her concerts into educational experiences about Mapuche culture. Despite facing discouragement from those who believed that the issues of indigenous people were no longer relevant, Aimée persisted. She became a beacon of hope and a vessel for the voices of the Mapuche people, inviting audiences to experience the beauty and resilience of their culture through her music. Tragically, Aimée's life was cut short when she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while performing in Paraguay in 1987, at the age of 44. Despite never recording an album, her legacy lives on, inspiring and empowering individuals around the world. Aimée Paine's story is a powerful reminder of the enduring spirit of the Mapuche people and the importance of preserving indigenous cultures. Through her music and dedication, Aimée Paine remains an emblem of cultural revival and the transformative power of sound.

Episode Show Notes

Aimé Painé (1943-1987) was a Mapuche singer-songwriter from Argentina. As she worked to rediscover her own identity, she became a symbol of resistance against oppression, advocating for the rights of her people through her music and activism. Painé's legacy endures as an icon of indigenous pride and cultural resilience in the face of adversity.

Episode Transcript

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In 1943, Aimé was born into the Mapuche and Tehuelche community in Rio Negro, Argentina.At the time, Argentinian laws didn't recognize names of indigenous origin, like Aimé.So Aimé was legally named Olga Elisa Painé. When Aimée was three years old, she was sent to an orphanage.Though her parents were alive, they were unable to take care of her. She spent the next three decades drifting further and further away from her family, community, and culture.As a child, Aimée spent a lot of time in Mar de Plata.She was often lonely.No one in her school or her town looked like her.Adults and kids constantly repeated harmful stereotypes about indigenous people, that they were savages. Aimée longed for a sense of identity and belonging.Eventually, she found it in music.Aimée joined the school choir.She was musically inclined and had a beautiful voice.A couple in the area heard her sing and adopted her. The couple took interest in her musical abilities and hired private tutors for singing and guitar. When she was old enough to be on her own, Aimée moved to Buenos Aires.There, in 1973, Aimée joined the National Polyphonic Choir.While in the choir, she sang mostly classical music.But as she got older, Aimée had been interacting more with Mapuche culture and indigenous music of Latin America.She longed to know it better.Armed with her guitar and an unwavering sense of purpose, Aimée embarked on a mission to reclaim her heritage. She traveled throughout Argentina and Chile, tape recorder in hand, collecting songs, folklore, and teachings from the indigenous communities and cultures she encountered.As her knowledge and talent blossomed, so did her awareness of the challenges facing indigenous communities in Argentina.Discrimination, marginalization, and cultural erasure threatened to silence the voices of the Mapuche people. But Aimée refused to be quiet. The community grandmothers were a particularly rich source of information.They taught her about Mapuche music, about its rhythm, its poetic lyrics.They also introduced her to ta'il, ceremonial songs passed through generations, usually by women.With the grandmother's permission, Aimée recorded these chants.She understood that her voice was not just a means of expression, but a vessel through which she could honor her roots and amplify the voices of the Mapuche people. She traveled around with her guitar performing folkloric and indigenous songs.She sang in the Mapuche language, Mapudungun, and played recorded ta'iles from the grandmothers who'd taught her.She passed along anecdotes that the grandmothers had told her while visiting them.Dressed in authentic indigenous clothing and Mapuche silver jewelry, Aimée converted her concerts into anthropology classes about the Mapuche culture. Many people dissuaded Aimée from her work.They said people didn't care about the issues of indigenous people anymore.But Aimée wasn't deterred.Through her music, Aimée became a beacon of hope, breathing new life into ancient songs that had been all but forgotten.She believed that if the people existed, so did the culture.With each melody and soul-stirring lyric, Aimée invited her audiences to experience the beauty and resilience of Mapuche culture firsthand. She thought of herself as a messenger.She said of her performances, The warmth and love behind Aimée's voice resonated with people of all backgrounds, transcending language and cultural barriers to create connections based on shared humanity.Her work was all live.Despite her vocal abilities, Aimée never recorded an album. On September 10th, 1987, Aimée suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while performing in Paraguay.She was 44 years old.Today, Aimée's legacy continues to inspire and empower individuals around the world.Her music serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Mapuche people and a reminder of the importance of preserving indigenous cultures in an ever-changing world. All month, we're talking about women of sound.For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcast.Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.Talk to you tomorrow. SPEAKER_06: Looking for hair removal tools that not only deliver smooth results, but also empower you with a sense of complete control?Enter Conair Girl Bomb, your secret weapons for smooth, sleek results made just for women.From the ultimate girl bomb grip and professional-grade blades, you don't have to compromise and settle for less. 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