Minga
The Andean tradition of a community working together for a shared goal.
Also: minka, mink'a
A minga, or minka in Quechua, is a communal work party in the Andes, in which neighbours join to build a house, repair a road, harvest a crop or clean an irrigation channel. The host provides food and drink, such as chicha, and the work is returned when others need help. The custom comes from the Inca and earlier, and remains strong in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia. The word has been used for Indigenous social movements. A minga often ends with a feast, music and dance. It expresses the principle of ayni, reciprocity, which is central in Andean life.
Region: Latin America and the Caribbean