This research aimed to understand some features of artistic expression called «rhymes» in the culture of the peasants from the top of the district of Yamango, Morropón province, in the Sierra of the department of Piura, Peru. Participant observation method was applied to collect and classify achieving 212 octosyllabic quatrains sung in local festivals and family. Those «rhymes», composed by themselves or learned on their trips to various places, are sung at their parties or recited in everyday life, they are similar to the «pechadas » of the Sierra of Cajamarca and cumananas of coastal zones of Piura and Lambayeque. Refer to family relationships, romantic love, the difficulties of life, uprooting and death.

It is verified that the apology for the foundation of cities for minorities, as the supposed beginning of civilization at the beginning of the Colony (16th century), added to the silence on the forced imposition of “Indian” towns or reductions, conceal the terrible demographic catastrophe in the North Peruvian Coast, caused by the acute exploitation and oppression of the majority native population, next to the new diseases and the impoverishment of the diet of the “Indians”.

We combine the study of published sources with archival manuscripts in order to analyze some contradictions between the landowner class, the peasants called «indians» and the plebs in the Independence movement of the Lambayeque region of Peru, from its antecedents until the years 1820 to 1823. The contradiction between the workers and the elite momentarily and partially struck the landed power, opening a fissure in the system of social oppression. But this could not be taken advantage of by the popular classes since they had neither a program, an organization, nor experienced leaders. Soon after that, the landowners regained the full power of their power. Some workers came to call the new rulers of Independence: «godasos (spaniards) with a reputation as patriots».

La presente investigación tuvo como objetivos comprender algunas características de las expresiones artísticas llamadas «versitos» en la cultura de los campesinos de la parte alta del distrito de Yamango, provincia de Morropón, en la sierra del departamento de Piura, Perú. Se aplicó el método de observación participante, lográndose recoger y clasificar 212 cuartetas octosílabas cantadas en las fiestas locales y familiares. Esos «versitos», compuestos por ellos mismos o aprendidos en sus viajes a diversos lugares, son cantados en sus fiestas o recitados en la vida cotidiana, Son similares a las «pechadas» de la sierra de Cajamarca y cumananas de las zonas costeras de Piura y Lambayeque. Se refieren a las relaciones de familia, el amor de pareja, las dificultades de la vida, el desarraigo y la muerte.

Se constata que la apología de la fundación de ciudades para minorías, como supuesto inicio de la civilización a inicios de la Colonia (siglo XVI), sumada al silencio sobre la forzada imposición de pueblos de “indios” o reducciones, encubren la terrible catástrofe demográfica en la Costa Norperuana, causada por la aguda explotación y opresión de la mayoritaria población originaria, al lado de las nuevas enfermedades y el empobrecimiento de la dieta de los “indios”. Además de sus efectos económicos y políticos esa apología y ese olvido contribuyen a una identidad que se identifica con los invasores y no con los pueblos originarios.

Using the contributions of Steve Stern, Florencia Mallon and other authors, on adaptation, resistance and adaptation in resistance of the peasants to oppression, this article examines -with information from archives- three different cases of social processes in the colonial province of Huambos (Cajamarca), from the awarding of land to original settlers by the Visitor Francisco de Huerta Gutierres (1657) until the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th century. The first case shows an adaptation process; the second reveals a long and successful adaptation in resistance; and the third seems to be a passive adaptation, in which the native peasant who receives land is quickly left aside by settlers and miners.