Main content

Guatemala’s ‘Indigenous Spring’

After huge political upheaval, is life improving for the country’s indigenous population?

Guatemala’s been going through huge political upheavals. Protestors brought the country to a standstill with roadblocks and national strikes which lasted more than one hundred days, until they got the government they had voted for.

Many of the protestors came from different indigenous communities, descended from the Mayans, who have their own language and culture and make up more than half of the 18 million population.

Now there’s talk of an ‘Indigenous Spring’ after years of racism and discrimination. But is life really improving for these communities and is it possible to turn the Central American country around after years of corruption?

Jane Chambers travels around the highlands and lowlands of Guatemala talking to the people who are trying to make changes and hearing from others whether they think it’s really working.

Presenter and Producer: Jane Chambers
Local Producer: José David López
Studio Manager: Neil Churchill
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman
Editor: Penny Murphy

(Image: Photo of a mural of indigenous people protesting during the 2023 National Strike in Guatemala. Credit: Jane Chambers/´óÏó´«Ã½)

Available now

27 minutes

On radio

Saturday 23:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Yesterday 02:32GMT
  • Yesterday 09:32GMT
  • Yesterday 20:06GMT
  • Yesterday 21:06GMT
  • Saturday 23:32GMT
  • Sunday 12:32GMT
  • Sunday 16:06GMT

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes