The Guanche: The Indigenous People of the Canary Islands

The Guanche were the indigenous people of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northwestern Africa. They are believed to have arrived on the islands around 1,000 BC from North Africa. The Guanches lived in a variety of different habitats, including coastal areas, valleys, and mountains. They were a hunter-gatherer society, but they also practiced agriculture and animal husbandry. They developed a unique culture that was distinct from the cultures of mainland Africa and Europe.

The Guanches were a hunter-gatherer society, and they lived in caves and huts. They had a sophisticated social structure, and they were skilled farmers and potters. The Guanches were also known for their mummification practices, which were similar to those of the ancient Egyptians. The Guanches were a highly organized society with a complex social structure. They were divided into different tribes, each with its leader and territory. The Guanches were also skilled warriors and defended their islands from invaders for centuries.

The Guanches had a rich culture and mythology. They believed in a single creator god and a pantheon of lesser gods and goddesses. The Guanches also had a complex system of beliefs about the afterlife. Europeans first encountered the Guanches in the 14th century. At the time, the Guanches were divided into seven different kingdoms. The Europeans began to colonize the Canary Islands in the 15th century, and the Guanches were eventually conquered.

Ref Link- https://lanzaroteinformation.co.uk/who-were-the-guanches/

The Guanches began to decline in number in the 15th century after the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands. The Spanish colonists brought diseases to the islands that decimated the Guanche population. The Guanches were also forced to convert to Christianity and adopt Spanish culture.

By the 17th century, the Guanches had primarily disappeared as a distinct ethnic group. However, their legacy can still be seen in the Canary Islands today. Many Canary Islanders have Guanche ancestry, and Guanche words and customs are still found in the islands’ culture.

Guanche Society

Guanche society was highly organized and complex. The Guanches were divided into different tribes, each with its leader and territory. The tribes were further divided into smaller clans and families.

The Guanche chief was the most influential person in the tribe. He was responsible for making decisions about war, peace, and trade. He also oversaw the distribution of food and other resources.

The Guanche people were remarkably egalitarian. Men and women had equal rights and responsibilities. The Guanches also had a strong sense of community. They worked together to build houses, farm the land, and defend their villages. More humble Guanches were buried beneath the earth, whereas dead Guanches of higher social status were left in caves. 

Similar to the Egyptians, the Guanches might have constructed the enigmatic pyramids scattered over Tenerife. However, this is still being determined. In the town of Guimar, there are six of them. Given that the Guanches were known to possess a basic understanding of geometric shapes from their “pintaderas,” which were essentially decorative pottery seals, it is highly plausible that they were the ones who constructed the structures.
Tenerife’s Guanches were divided into nine kingdoms, each headed by a king referred to as a “mencey.”
Since there is no proof that the other Macaronesian archipelagos (the Azores, Cape Verde, and Madeira) were inhabited before Europeans arrived, the Guanches were the only indigenous people known to have lived in the Macaronesian region before European settlers arrived.
Spanish invaders racially and culturally assimilated them after conquering the Canaries, although some aspects of their culture are still present today, mingled with Canarian customs and traditions like Silbo (the whistled language of La Gomera Island).

Guanche Culture

The Guanches had a rich and complex culture. They were skilled farmers and fishermen, and they had a strong religious tradition. The Guanches had a rich culture and mythology. They believed in a single creator god, Achamán, and a pantheon of lesser gods and goddesses. The Guanches also had a complex system of beliefs about the afterlife.

The Guanches lived in small villages, and each town had its chief. The chief was responsible for governing the village and for leading the villagers in war. The Guanches were skilled artisans and produced a variety of pottery, textiles, and other goods. They were also professional musicians and dancers.

The Guanches were a polygamous society, and men could have multiple wives. The Guanches also had a strong sense of family, and the extended family was an essential part of Guanche society. The Guanches were a religious people, and they worshipped a number of different deities. The most critical Guanche deity was Chaxiraxi, the god of the sky and the sun. Other important Guanche Creators included Magec, the god of the moon and the stars, and Abora, the god of the mountains and the forests.

Ref Link- https://www.sci.news/genetics/north-african-origin-guanches-05369.html

The Guanches had a robust oral tradition. They passed down their stories, songs, and poems from generation to generation.

Guanche Language

The Guanches spoke a language called Guanche, which is now extinct. The Guanche language was a Berber language spoken by the indigenous people of the Canary Islands. It is believed to have been related to the languages of the Amazigh people of North Africa, and it is thought to have been brought to the Canary Islands by the Guanches’ ancestors.

The Guanche language became extinct in the 17th century after the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands. However, there are still a few words and phrases from the Guanche language that are used in the Canary Islands today.

Guanche Religion and Mythology

The Guanches were a religious people, and they worshipped a number of different deities. The Guanches had a complex religious system, which was based on polytheism. They believed in a number of gods and goddesses, including Chaxiraxi (the supreme god), Magec (the god of the sun), Achamán (the god of the sea), and Abora, the god of the mountains and the forests. The Guanches believed in an afterlife, and they thought that the good would go to paradise after death while the bad would go to hell.

The Guanches also had a rich mythology. One of their most famous myths is the story of Guayota, the evil goddess of fire. Guayota was said to live in the Teide volcano, and she was responsible for eruptions and other natural disasters.

Guanche Collapse

The Guanches first encountered Europeans in the 14th century. At the time, the Guanches were divided into seven different kingdoms. The Europeans began to colonize the Canary Islands in the 15th century, and the Guanches were eventually conquered.

The Guanche population declined rapidly after the European conquest. This was due to a number of factors, including disease, warfare, and slavery. The Guanche language eventually became extinct, and Guanche culture was largely lost.

Guanche Legacy

The Guanches were primarily assimilated into Spanish society after the conquest of the Canary Islands in the 15th century. However, some aspects of Guanche culture have survived to this day, such as the traditional Canarian language, Silbo Gomero.

Silbo Gomero is a whistled language that is used on the island of La Gomera. It is believed to have developed as a way for the Guanches to communicate over long distances. Silbo Gomero was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. 

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Guanche culture and history. A number of museums and cultural centres have been established to promote Guanche culture, and there is a growing movement to revive the Guanche language.

The Guanches were a unique and fascinating people. Their culture and mythology are still a source of fascination and pride for many Canary Islanders today. Despite the fact that the Guanches were conquered and their culture was largely lost, there are still some remnants of Guanche culture in the Canary Islands today. For example, many place names in the Canary Islands are of Guanche origin.

Ref Link- https://medium.com/@ad.meliora.02/the-arrival-of-the-guanches-in-the-canary-islands-77bfade293f4

The Guanche legacy can still be seen in the Canary Islands today. Many Canary Islanders have Guanche ancestry, and Guanche words and customs are still found in the islands’ culture. The Guanches were a resilient people, and they were able to survive on the Canary Islands for centuries before being conquered by the Europeans. The Guanches are an important part of the history of the Canary Islands, and their legacy continues to this day.

Additional Information

Here are some additional facts about the Guanches:

• The Guanches were tall and slender people, with fair skin and light hair.
• They were skilled navigators, and they used their knowledge of the stars to travel between the Canary Islands.
• The Guanches were also skilled warriors, and they fought fiercely against the Spanish conquistadors.
• The Guanches were a peaceful people, but they were also fiercely independent. They resisted Spanish attempts to convert them to Christianity and to impose Spanish culture on them.

The Guanches are a fascinating people with a rich and unique culture. Their story is a reminder of the importance of preserving indigenous cultures.

Conclusion

The Guanches were the indigenous people of the Canary Islands. They were a hunter-gatherer society with a rich culture and mythology. The Guanches began to decline in number in the 15th century after the Spanish conquest of the Canary Islands. By the 17th century, the Guanches had primarily disappeared as a distinct ethnic group. However, their legacy can still be seen in the Canary Islands today. Many Canary Islanders have Guanche ancestry, and Guanche words and customs are still found in the islands’ culture.