WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Eva Ayllón, born María Angélica Ayllón Urbina on February 7, 1956, in Lima, Peru, is one of the most famous and influential singers of Afro-Peruvian music. Known for her powerful and emotive voice, Eva Ayllón has played a crucial role in promoting Afro-Peruvian musical genres such as festejo and landó, not only in Peru but around the world. She is often referred to as "The Queen of Afro-Peruvian Music" for her immense cultural impact.
Eva Ayllón grew up in a working-class neighborhood of Lima, where she was surrounded by the sounds of criollo and Afro-Peruvian music from an early age. Her grandmother, who played an important role in her life, introduced her to traditional Peruvian music. By the age of three, Eva was already singing at neighborhood gatherings, and by the time she was 15, she was performing on stage with local bands.
In the 1970s, she joined several criollo music groups, performing waltzes, marineras, and huaynos. However, it was in Afro-Peruvian rhythms that she truly found her voice. At a time when these musical genres were still largely unknown, even in their country of origin, Eva Ayllón helped revive and popularize them as an integral part of Peru's cultural identity.
In the 1980s, Eva Ayllón's career took a decisive turn. She began performing abroad, particularly in the United States and Europe, where she met with enthusiastic audiences. Her captivating performances and her ability to convey deep emotions through her voice earned her critical acclaim. During this period, she recorded several albums that propelled her to international stardom.
Among her most famous songs are Mal paso, Ritmo, color y sabor, and Huascarán, which have become classics of the Afro-Peruvian repertoire. Thanks to her passionate performances, Eva Ayllón helped spread Afro-Peruvian music beyond Peru's borders.
Throughout her career, Eva Ayllón has been dedicated to promoting and preserving Afro-Peruvian culture. She has consistently emphasized the importance of African heritage in Peruvian culture and has worked tirelessly to ensure that the contributions of Afro-Peruvians are recognized and celebrated.
In addition to her musical career, Eva Ayllón has been involved in educational and social initiatives aimed at supporting young talents from the Afro-Peruvian community. She has conducted music workshops and encouraged many young artists to embrace their culture and continue the musical traditions of their ancestors.
Despite her international success, Eva Ayllón has never stopped evolving as an artist. She has experimented with different musical genres, occasionally incorporating elements of jazz and classical music into her interpretations of traditional songs. This musical openness has allowed her to reach a wider audience and remain relevant in a constantly changing music industry.
Among her most notable collaborations are those with artists like Susana Baca, another great figure of Afro-Peruvian music, and internationally renowned musicians such as Plácido Domingo and Juan Diego Flórez. These collaborations have allowed Eva Ayllón to push the boundaries of traditional music while staying true to her roots.
Today, Eva Ayllón is widely recognized as one of the greatest ambassadors of Peruvian music. Her work has played a vital role in the rediscovery and revitalization of Afro-Peruvian music, and she continues to influence new generations of musicians, both in Peru and abroad.
In 2019, she received the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a recognition of her incredible contribution to music. This award is a tribute to her prolific career and her dedication to promoting Afro-Peruvian culture.
Eva Ayllón continues to perform on stages around the world, enchanting audiences with her vibrant performances and her love for the traditional music of her country. Her name will forever be associated with the revival and expansion of Afro-Peruvian music, and she remains a true cultural icon not only for Peru but for all of Latin America.