Mourning Parade

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Ayacucho, one of Peru's Andean cities most affected by the conflict with the Shinning Path in the 1980s, celebrated its famous Carnival this year with parades alluding to the national political crisis. Behind these demonstrations were local artists who had gone into hiding after participating in last December's protests, in which 10 locals were killed during clashes with the police and military. Their acclaimed parody came at a time when the government was seeking to criminalize protests and dozens of demonstrators remain behind bars.

For three days I followed the group through the crowded streets of downtown Ayacucho, as they sang satirical songs behind a life-size papier-mâché tank, mixing tradition, art and protest. Several passersby joined the mourning parade, tripling its size, while others, from the sidewalk, chanted in favor.