SUMMER 2019, PART 2-D: DONAJI, THE LEYEND

Legend tells of the story of a beautiful woman named "Donají" who was the daughter of Zapotec King Cosijoeza (1450-1504) who governed the kingdom of Zaachila and was the master in keeping the Spaniards from taken over the land (although the Spaniards did take over many areas, including Mitla, they were defeated by an alliance between Zapotec and Mixtec Indigenous people who united to take back their kingdoms from the colonizers. 

But I digress:

When Donají was born, (her name means alma grande-big soul) a Zapotec priest from Mitla told the queen and the king that the heavens show a sing about their daughter, "She is going to sacrifice herself for the love to her own Zapotec people." 

When Donají was a teenager, her people, the Zapotecs were at war with the Mixtecs. During one of their many battles, Prince Nucano, who lead the Mixtec was wounded and taken prisoner by the Zapotec. It was during his imprisonment that Donají took care of the wounded prince, and they both felt in love with each other.

Unfortunately, the Zapotec people lost the battle and Prince Nucano was rescued. Then, the Mixtec King under the advice of his son, asked the King Cosijoeza for Donají, who would served as a peace offering and as a guaranty that the Zapotec would not break any peace treaties. And so, Princess Donají and Prince Nucano got married. 

The couple lived a very happy life but Donají was never allowed to go back to her people. Legend says that Donají's grandfather came to her in a dream and told her that she needed to go back to her people for they were sad and felt unlucky without her. So, one day while her husband, Prince Nucano, was out doing business with the Aztecs, Princess Donají sent one of her own servants with a message to her father. The message: Prince Nucano and most of his warriors are in Technotitlán, come at night an rescue me. And so they did.

At night the Zapotec warriors went into Monte Albán and stormed the city by surprise, killing many of its citizens and warriors. During the surprised attack, Princes Donají waited in her room. Soon, a dark landed on her door, which was the sign needed for her to exit and be taken back to her father the king. Unfortunately, two of the Mixtec soldiers realized what was happening and also figured out that the attack on Monte Albán had been done under Princess Donají's orders. Quickly, the two Mixtec soldiers took Donají with them and beheaded her, then buried her body so it could never be found. 

When Prince Nucano came back and found out his wife had been killed because of her betrayal and asked where her body was, no on knew because the two soldiers that killed her and burie her were killed during the surprised attack. Prince Nucano, went to war against the Zapotec, because they brook their peace treaty, took over their kingdom but promised to rule them with respect due to his love for Donají. It is here where both the Mixtec and the Zapotec became "one nation" and the prophecy about Donají was fulfilled, "she would be sacrificed for her own people."

Many years later, when Spain rained the Mexican territory, a shepherd boy who was walking near the Atoyac River (near the Oaxacan Airport today) saw a white lily. At the time, lily's were considered exotic flowers so he decided to uproot it. To his surprise, the roots were attached to what seem to be a woman's head. He then ran to the town and told them about it. Soon the people uncovered the head and body and seeing that both were uncorrupted realized it was the body of Princess Donají. They took the body and honored her death giving her proper burial. 

Today, Donají's tomb is located in the now abandoned ex-monastery of Saint Santiago Apostol, also a cultural site and museum. One of the most important facts to remember about Oaxaca people is that even though they were introduced to Christian believes, they still practice Indigenous religion. So, it is not surprising to find both Christian and Zapotec/Mixtec religious practices/artifact fused together. 

The ex-monastery has a small chapel that is so important to the Oaxaca people that even Pope John Paul II gave a mass here during one of his visits. The reason for the chapel, to house the tomb of Donají

And this is why Oaxaca as a state is one of the most intriguing places to visit. There is so much pride and joy about being Indigenous here, and there is an infinite amount of Indigenous practices all over that it is simply humbling an so emotional to be a person of color.

"Donají: the legend," (dance format) presented by the Oaxaca Ballet during the Guelaguetza 2019. 

NEXT: MONTE ALBÁN & ALEBRIJES!