Arlen Siu Bermundéz

NICARAGUA

(1955–1975) Arlen Siu was born in Jinotepe, Nicaragua. Her father was an immigrant from China and her mother was a native Nicaraguan. Arlen Siu attended La Escuela Normal de Señoritas in Jinotepe and aspired to become a teacher. She continued her studies at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN). There she sang with Marlene Alvarez and the band Grupo Pancasán. Siu was 18 when she joined the Sandinistas. By then, she had already attained a level of national celebrity as a talented musician. Her writings and songs highlighted the central role of peasant women, most famously, her song "Maria Rural." She was killed by soldiers from Somoza’s National Guard at the age of 20 during an ambush near El Sauce, Leon, Nicaragua. After her death, her picture was often displayed at FSLN celebrations throughout Nicaragua. Managua and El Rama have neighborhoods named after her, and a park in León is also named after her. Read more.

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