Ayni: "Giving without thinking of getting anything back"



The Ayni is a reciprocity system that has been practised since the pre-Columbian times until today, based on the “give without thinking of getting anything back” principle. It is also the way our people live their lives, inside their cosmic space.

AYNI is a Quechuan word that means solidarity and cooperation. Beyond just a word, it is actually a way of living that originated in the ancient times, and manifests itself in social interactions based on cooperation and reciprocity: the AYNI means to give a helping hand during difficult moments, a help that will be eventually given back in the same measure.

The AYNI as a way of collective work is of the utmost significance in today’s Andean communities, in which it is applied as a survival strategy and a tool for the cultural integration between the indigenous families.

Passing on,

Emilio Urbay

Musician

Peru