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First Triqui-Language Podcast by Indigenous Woman Confronts Child Marriage and Gender Violence in Mexico 

First Triqui-Language Podcast by Indigenous Woman Confronts Child Marriage and Gender Violence in Mexico 
Credit: Spotify

Nayeli López Reyes, a 27-year-old artisan and podcaster from the indigenous Triqui community of San Martín Itunyuso, Oaxaca, Mexico, has become a voice for women through her podcast series, Guii Chanaa/Mujeres Valientes (Brave Women).  

In six episodes, López narrates the experiences of women in her community, revealing the violence they face and how traditional marriages, often involving the exchange of money, continue to shape their lives. The series, which is available in both Spanish and the Triqui language, captures stories from the very heart of San Martín Itunyuso, a community that has been embroiled in violence over the past five years. 

About the First Triqui-Language Podcast, Guii Chanaa/Mujeres Valientes

The podcast, a first-of-its-kind initiative to give voice to Triqui women, covers topics like the marriage customs of past generations, the societal restrictions women face, and the continuing issue of women being sold into marriage.  

López’s work has not gone unnoticed. In March 2024, she was recognized by Quién magazine as one of the “31 Mujeres que Amamos,” alongside other prominent figures such as gymnast Alexa Moreno, cultural activist Aida Mulato, and singer Natalia Lafourcade. Quién praised the women for their significant contributions across various sectors, calling them fundamental to society and highlighting how platforms like López’s podcast offer “a map of reality for women” that provides “a diversity of possibilities.” 

Her path to creating the podcast began in 2021 when she won a competition hosted by Spotify called “Sound Up.” Out of 10 finalists, López was one of two winners selected to bring her podcast to life. According to El Universal, López credits her sister, Gabriela, for helping with translations between Triqui and Spanish. 

Violence and Child Marriages in Mexico

For López, the significance of her work lies in breaking the silence that surrounds the experiences of women in her community. “I’ve experienced violence as a child and now as an adult. There is no safe place for us — not in the village, not in the city. Violence is everywhere,” she shares in her podcast. The series not only exposes the domestic violence that many women endure but also tackles broader issues of discrimination and racism. “Violence exists outside too, in the form of discrimination and racism. It’s a violence against our bodies.” 

López also speaks out against the practice of child marriage, a custom still prevalent in many indigenous communities. She emphasizes that the push for change must come from within, from the women themselves. “Young girls today often resist these arrangements because they don’t want to be paid for, but unfortunately, many parents still cling to the idea that a certain amount should be paid for their daughters.” 

Guii Chanaa is the first podcast in the Triqui language that addresses these deeply rooted cultural practices from a woman’s perspective. López acknowledges that her work has inspired other women to speak out, even though she initially feared backlash. “I haven’t faced any resistance so far. I think it’s because we, as women, have so few opportunities to speak about the violence we face in our communities.” 

Nayeli Continues to Win

Her work has now earned her the prestigious 2024 Gabriel García Márquez Prize for Journalism in the Audio category, cementing her as a trailblazer for indigenous women’s voices. Alongside her podcast, López also works as a weaver and artisan, preserving the traditional skills passed down from her grandmothers.  

Through her voice, López is not just documenting the lives of the women in her community, but helping to redefine them, urging them to question the practices that bind them and envision a different future. 

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