El Güegüense

El Güegüense
El Güegüense
Written byAnonymous
Characters
  • Güegüense
  • Don Forcico
  • Don Ambrosio
  • Governor Tastuanes
  • Captain Alguacil Mayor
  • The Royal Clerk
  • The Royal Assistant
  • Doña Suche Malinche
  • The four machos
Date premiered16th century
Original languageNahuat and Spanish
GenreSatirical drama
El Güegüense
GenreSatirical drama performance
Date(s)17–27 January
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Diriamba, Nicaragua
El Güegüense
CountryNicaragua
Reference00111
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription2008 (3rd session)
ListRepresentative

El Güegüense (Spanish pronunciation: [el ɣweˈɣwen.se]; also known as Macho Ratón, pronounced [ˈma.tʃo raˈton]) is a satirical drama and was the first literary work of post-Colonial Nicaragua. It is regarded as one of Latin America's most distinctive colonial-era expressions and as Nicaragua's signature folkloric masterpiece combining music, dance and theater. There was also a monument built in the center of a rotonda (roundabout) in Managua, in its honor. El Güegüense is performed during the feast of San Sebastián in Diriamba (Carazo department) from 17 to 27 January.