Campaign signs

Later in 2014, local and regional elections will take place in Cajabamba and Cajamarca. Consequently, the candidates have been busy painting the town (literally) with their names and slogans for the upcoming elections. In a country made up almost entirely by rural terrain, where farmers might own a radio - if any communication mode at all - this is a prime way to rustle up the votes. The majority of farmers will never travel very far from their home community, so it only makes sense that the candidates would find a way to bring their names even to the farthest regions of Peru. Voter outreach is all the more important here because everyone is required by law to vote - if you know that even the most far-flung peasant's vote is going to somebody, you make a bit more effort to try and swing them to your side. The result: the entire front sides of houses being transformed into political murals. From the similarity in designs across geographical space, I know it's not the inhabitants themselves doing the painting. What I'm still not sure about is whether the campaign staff's paint gangs pay these house-owners for the privilege, or whether people tend to agree gratis just to add some color to their adobe. Regardless, as you can see from the below photos*, there's no U.S.-style cardboard yard signs to be found around here - just wall signs ten times as big!

The green flag and red letters of the MAS party

The signature orange and black of Keiko Fujimori's party

* Side note: these houses are not here in Cajabamba (although similar murals do exist on the edges of town); they're about two hours' walk into the hills of the campo, located along side-roads and footpaths.