Apu Mallku is an Aymara title meaning "supreme leader" or "king" conferred on a Mallku

Mallku

Mallku is a title roughly translating as "prince" or "leader" in the Aymara language of South America. They recognise an Apu Mallku as their "supreme leader" or "king"...

 or "prince". The Apu Mallku's mandate is to oversee the vast network of Ayllus

Ayllus

An ayllu is a unit of familial or local self-organization, particularly in rural areas. Ayllu is a word in both the Quechua and Aymara languages referring to a network of families in a given area, often with a putative or fictive common ancestor. Ayllus are distinguished by comparative...

, an ancient Andean system of governing councils that predates even the Inca empire. It appears that the mandate of the Apu Mallku was initially restricted to the Collasuyu (the traditional Aymara lands of Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

, parts of Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

 and northern Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

) but it could now be interpreted (since a resolution in 2000) to extend to the bounds of the much larger former Inca realm of the Tawantinsuyu which stretched throughout the Andes

Andes

The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...

 incorporating the modern states of Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

, Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

, Ecuador

Ecuador

Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...

, Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 and Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

. The self-appellation for the people of this combined territory is Qullana.

It would seem through the ayllus system there is a large degree of coordination between both the Aymara and the Quechua nations. Apu Mallku was the title bestowed upon Evo Morales

Evo Morales

Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...

 on 21 January 2006 at Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku, is an important Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia, South America. Tiwanaku is recognized by Andean scholars as one of the most important precursors to the Inca Empire, flourishing as the ritual and administrative capital of a major state power for approximately five...

, the day before his official inauguration as president

President

A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...

 of Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

.

Apu Mallku

• Juan Evo Morales
  Evo Morales
  Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...
  
   Ayma, the incumbent (2006– )
• Antonio Machaca
  Antonio Machaca
  Antonio Machaca is an indigenous leader from Bolivia who served as the elected Apu Mallku, or spiritual leader, of CONAMAQ - Consejo Nacional de Ayllus y Markas del Qollasuyu for 2004. He was succeeded by Juan Evo Morales Ayma.-References:...
  
   (2004–2006?)
• Vicente Flores
  Vicente Flores
  Vicente Flores was Apu Mallku of Qullana Suyu Marka between 2003 and 2004. He was replaced by Antonio Machaca.-References:...
  
   Lorenza Mostacero (2003–2004?)
• Max Paredes
  Max Paredes
  Max Paredes was an ethnic Aymara Apu Mallku of Qullana Suyu Marka between 2000 and 2003. He had been a Mallku representing the Aymara community of part of Bolivia before he was chosen as the next Apu Mallku. In 2002 he was forced to defend his position amid various slurs that he was in league with...
  
   (2000–2003)

National Council of Ayllus and Markas of the Qullasuyu (Conamaq)

This parliament or Jacha Ulaka consists of 150 delegates sent from the ayllus of the Greater Collasuyu region. This region is also called Qullakas Asanajaqes. The parliament holds regular meetings at Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku, is an important Pre-Columbian archaeological site in western Bolivia, South America. Tiwanaku is recognized by Andean scholars as one of the most important precursors to the Inca Empire, flourishing as the ritual and administrative capital of a major state power for approximately five...

 and Cochabamba

Cochabamba

Cochabamba is a city in central Bolivia, located in a valley bearing the same name in the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cochabamba Department and is the fourth largest city in Bolivia with an urban population of 608,276 and a metropolitan population of more than 1,000,000 people...

 in Bolivia

Bolivia

Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...

 and other places. It was first constituted on March 22, 1997 and was composed of the regional organizations: Jatun Quillakas Asanajaqis, J'acha Carangas, Charka Qhara Qhara, First Nations' Council of Potosi's Ayllus, Qhara Qhara, Ayllus of Cochabamba, Jach'a Suyu Pakajak'i, Urus

Urus

Aberdeen is a town on the south shore of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Southern District. Aberdeen Harbour is a harbour between Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau. The name 'Aberdeen' usually covers the areas of Aberdeen, Wong Chuk Hang and Ap Lei Chau, but it is more...

, Saoras-Chuwis, and Kallawayas.

Council of Mallkus and Amautas of the Parliament of the Qullana

There is also an institution called the Council of Mallkus and Amautas which acts rather like an upper house consisting of four delegates from each of the modern states that comprise the Qullakas Asanajaqes. During the period 2000 - 2003 those delegates were:

Jalsuri (Bolivia)

• Max Paredes
  Max Paredes
  Max Paredes was an ethnic Aymara Apu Mallku of Qullana Suyu Marka between 2000 and 2003. He had been a Mallku representing the Aymara community of part of Bolivia before he was chosen as the next Apu Mallku. In 2002 he was forced to defend his position amid various slurs that he was in league with...
  
  
• Julian Bautista
• Félix López
• Representative of Potosí (Quechua)

Aynacha (Argentina)

• Gerónimo Alvarez
• Celina Avendaño
• Saturnino Mamani
• Natalia Zana Pura

Quotations