Estupiñán Bass, Nelson--El ultimo río

Ecuador is characterized by its variety of ethnic groups, including mestizos, Indians and African descendents that have formed a rich heritage of multiple cultures. Whereas much attention has been given to indigenous and indigenista literature, there is a large gap in Ecuador's literary criticism on its afro-Ecuadorian literature. This thesis examines two afro-Ecuadorian novels, Juyungo (1942) and El ultimo rio (1966). I explore the social and economic environment in which afro-Ecuadorians had to live during the beginning of the 20 th century. Whereas Ecuador's contemporary racial ideology and the social construction of the individual dates from the colonial times, the authors of these afro-Ecuadorian novels contest that discrimination and racism and propose a radically different conception of the nation, one more inclusive of its diverse cultures.