El Q'anil, Man of Lightning: A Legend of Jacaltenango, Guatemala

by Victor Montejo

The legend of El Q'anil, the "Man of Lightning," stands alongside such classic Maya literary artifacts as Popol Vuh and Chilam Balam but has been preserved only through the oral tradition of the Jakaltek Maya. In this tale, the young man Xhuwan Q'anil brings lightning to his people in order to save them from destruction. He undertakes a journey of adventure, participates in a great war, and is subsequently immortalized. It is a story that all Jakaltek children learn, one that reinforces their identity by showing that their people have a hero who lives in each Jakaltek Maya today. Víctor Montejo, who was raised in Maya culture and knows its lore intimately, compiled several versions of the legend in Guatemala during the height of paramilitary operations in that country in the 1980s. His contemporary reconstruction lovingly preserves this legend and reflects concern for the survival of Maya culture in the face of oppression. Just as the Maya people of western Guatemala continue to pray for peace at the sanctuary of Q'anil, the legend of the Man of Lightning affirms a culture's enduring traditions. In this edition, the text is presented in English, Spanish, and Jakaltek Maya to secure its deserved place in world literature.

136 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never would have picked this up on my own volition, but it was surprisingly readable.

[Wallace Kaufman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written by the former Minister of Peace of Guatemala, was in its original form, his exit ticket from Guatemala and the death squads of the early 1980s. The first edition was hand made and sold as a limited edition by paid subscribers. I had proposed the idea of publishing and selling something and asked the writer, what he thought would be a good start. Without hesitation he said we should do the legend of El Kanil (as then transliterated), one of the four lightning gods said to protect his village of Jacaltenango. Those sales bought Montejo a ticket out of Guatemala. He went on to earn a masters and then a PhD in anthropology.

He had often heard pieces of the story from village elders, but he knew little of its background or origins. With his training in scholarship he began to research. This edition, in Jacaltec, English and Spanish, reveals the historical and cultural background behind the legend.

[Sarah Widger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did a small study over this professor, author, and Takaltek Mayan, and found him and his stories to be absolutely amazing. Quite outstanding stories he has to tell. I was very impacted by his words in Speaking for the Generation, "The Stones will Speak Again: Dreams of an Ah Tz'Ib (writer) in the Maya Land", where he tells us the story of his life as a mayan and becoming a writer within and for that purpose. I read of this mayan legend in this writing and descided to check it out. El Q'anil gave me a greater understanding to the mayan heritage, culture, history, love for community, and struggle through oppression against domestic and foreign threats. Yet through people like Montejo these legends survive and reach our shelves! Read it! Its bound to give you a better understanding to another way of life.

[Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love to travel with rude sorcerers and transform into lighting in my nice new yellow shirt.