Newborn Baby in Barrio Edgard Munguia

Nicaragua Nicaraguita
*
“La Flor Mas Linda de mi Querer”
Photographic story by ANDREW COURTNEY
 Ay Nicaragua, Nicaraguita,
la flor mas linda de mi querer,
abonada con la bendita,
Nicaraguita, sangre de Diriangén.
Ay Nicaragua sos mas dulcita,
que la mielita de Tamagas,
pero ahora que ya sos libre,
Nicaraguita, yo te quiero mucho mas.
.

Ay Nicaragua , Nicaraguita 
The flower most precious to my heart 
Bestowed with the blessed Nicaraguita 
Blood of Diriangén 
Ay Nicaragua you are much sweeter 
Then the honey from Tamagas 
And now that your free Nicaraguita 
I love you much more .
Courtney ‘84

NICARAGUA
* NICARAGUITA
Composed and sung by: Carlos Mejia Godoy

To hear this beautiful Nicaraguan song,

go to:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/nicaragua-nicaraguita-lyrics-carlos-mejia-godoy.html
Barrio Edgard Munguia Edgard Munguia was a young man killed by the U.S. Backed Somoza National
Guard in 1978. A very poor Managua barrio it was flooded out in 1981.
The Sandinista government gave the 2000 residents new high ground land to
build a new community and reconstruct their homes.
Many barrio residents fought in the successful Sandinista insurrection of 1979. It was here that
13 of our New York Volunteer Construction Brigade built a Community Center in the fall of 1984.
 The New York Volunteer Construction Brigade

Barrio Edgard Munguia Team Barrio Bello Amanecer Team

 Margaret Hall, Rochester, NY Bill Stroud, Nyack, NY

Dennis Lombardi, Brockton, Mass Kermit Beauchamp and Elaine Myrianthopolis, NYC
 The “Casa Comunal” near completion

Bill Stroud and Dennis Lombardi Kevin Gerien, NYC

 Giving blood for wounded Sandinista soldiers Paco Valencia at weekly demonstration, U.S. Embassy, Managua

Kermit and Dennis carry our banner at a Sandinista Rally Internationals help with the Coffee bean harvest, Matagalpa

Solidarity Internationals and representatives from countries the world over came to Nicaragua to help the
Sandinista revolution survive. Cotton and Coffee harvest volunteers freed young Nicaraguans to
mobilize in the army protecting the country from the U.S. trained and deployed Contra terrorists.
 FSLN (Frente Sandinista Liberación Nacional) Barrio Edgard Munguia

U.S.Invasion Threat In October, 1984, the U.S. threatened to invade Nicaragua. The CIA mined
Managua’s harbor and regularly flew B-52 supersonic bombers breaking the
sound barrier from CIA bases in Honduras. The same year, Nicaragua ran out
of all glass, aspirin and construction nails.
The U.S. President Reagan, the CIA, Oliver North and the U.S. Congress orchestrated the invasion threat.
The Sandinistas armed citizens in every barrio to defend their families, country and their revolution.
 Training session

People of the Barrio Edgard Munguia mobilize to meet US Paratroopers should there be the invasion in
the next few days.
Our construction brigade helped dig “L” shaped foxholes. It was assumed U.S. attacking aircraft would sweep
in from two directions. As Americans working in support of the Sandinistas we were in a tight spot. What
would our role be confronting U.S. forces attacking and killing our friends and companions who we had come
to know, respect and love?
 Positioned to defend our Barrio

Tanks rolled out with a deep, grinding diesel noise and were positioned at all road corners in Managua. At
night we listened to the BBC and Voice of America and learned the invasion threat seemed imminent. Our
teams debated what response would be right in such an event. Our agreed role was to be actively non-
violent in all ways.
Funeral for a young Nicaraguan, German Chevaria, killed by the U.S. backed Contras (counter revolutionaries).
Sandinista Elena Pineda is a hero of the revolution and was a fighter in the forests of Solantiname Island in Lake
Nicaragua during the insurrection of 1979. Solantiname is fertile ground for poets, artists and
revolutionaries. Elena is a devoted mother, a wife of a Sandinista Comandante and a world
recognized Nicaraguan artist. She hosted several of our brigadistas in her home.
 Children playing in Bluefields, Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast has a majority African and Indigenous population. Not unlike the entire
Caribbean Coast from Belize to Panama, there are large English speaking, Protestant communities.
Historically these communities have not been very involved in the political, revolutionary events of the
majority Spanish speaking cultures of their respective Central American countries.
My visit here was with the Miskito, Rama and Suma Indians and the Costeño, Creole African population of
Bluefields and Corn Island.
Bluefields A city at the mouth of the Escondido River and the Caribbean Sea, Bluefields is home
to a large black settlement on the east coast of Nicaragua and is strongly associated
with Black Creole culture. 
Sherman Bendless, 91 years old. He told me he learned to play baseball from the US Marines who had
invaded Nicaragua in 1911 landing troops on the beaches of the Bluefields region. Nicaragua has the
largest population of African descent in Central America and approximately two-thirds of that group resides
in and around Bluefields.
Corn Island Off the
east coast of Nicaragua in the Caribbean are the Corn Islands. Most are members
of the Moravian Church. Due to its location the population is very self-sufficient.
Corn Island is a fishing culture.
The Corn Islands have a population of 7,000 people. They are a mix of the Garifuna, the descendants of
Carib, Arawak and West African peoples, Mestizos from mainland Nicaragua, and indigenous Miskito
people from Caribbean Mosquito coast.
 Corn Island Family Group

English is considered the official language on Corn Islands, followed by Miskito and Spanish.
 Rama Chief Rufino, his mother and daughter. Ram Cay
Rama Indians
There are approximately 150 Rama Indians living on Rama Cay. The island lies south of Bluefields and can only be
reached by dugout canoe. The Rama are trilingual. They speak Miskito, Costeño (Caribbean English Patois) and
Spanish. The Rama and other indigenous peoples are primarily members of the Moravian church. They live in
raised palm frond thatched huts surrounded by Banana, Breadfruit, Tamarindo and Avocado trees.
Mr. Welcome Morgan told me he and his son make 20 foot mahogany canoes like this one in 15 days from
felled tree to finished canoe. From it, they they fish for Conch, Shrimp an Langoustine and spear Manatee and
Caiman.
 Chief Rufino’s granddaughter, Elizabeth 21 days old, 1982

Two years after I made this photograph, The U.S.backed “Contra” terrorists attacked and overran Rama Cay
with little reported resistance since there was no Sandinista protecting force there.
Many Rama were killed including women and children. I hope that then 2 year old Elizabeth survived.
 Fiesta honoring the 16 year old Literacy Brigades

Revolutionary Promise

Three national projects in the order

1. Literacy for all.

2. Free health care, cradle to grave.
3. Some land for the ownership of the means of production.

In 1985, the new Sandinista government ordered all urban 16 years olds to spend 6 months in the countryside
teaching literacy. The oldest citizens first. When they returned to Managua, rich with experiences, they were
awarded with a grand fiesta and the right to vote.
 Voting station with sample ballot

“They Shall Not Pass” (from the Spanish Civil war) and Sandino’s hat symbol

Paco Valencia, White Plains, NY with

Land and materials for a home given to a poor family

16 year old voter showing her purple died thumb.

The first democratic election was held in 1984. The UN commission on elections, international
observers and the Jimmy Carter monitoring group saw no voting irregularities.
 Andrew with children of the Barrio Edgard Munguia 1983 photo by: David Leviatin

“La Lucha Sigue” The Struggle Continues

The generosity and steadfastness of the Nicaraguan people remains such an important guide for me.
Practicing active dissent is key to protecting, polishing and defending a delicate democracy anywhere.
The same struggle continues in all areas where the powerful oppress the powerless.
I carry this lesson and connection to Nicaragua with me every day. AC