Artes Populares 9 [antikvár]

INTRODUCTIONIn February 1982, the Latin American Workshop was fenned at the Folklore Department of the Eötvös Lóránd University, Budapest. As Professor Vilmos Volgt, the head of the department, explained at the first meeting the aim of the Workshop was to provide oportunltles for Hungarian Americanists, and not only for folklorlsts or anthropologists but for all specialists Interested In Latin America The proposal was well-reoelved and It was not at all accidental that at the first meeting - as well as at later ones - archaeologists, historians, literary men and the representatives of other disciplines appeared as well as university students taking their first steps In their field. This kind of Initiative Is not without precedents In Hiingary. The well-known historian, Tibor Wittman, who unfortunately died very young, suggested the formation of a Latin-American central research institute some 10 years ago. The prerequisites of an Independent institution were not given then,and neither are they given today. Demand for it Is shown by the fact that research on Latin America is conducted at several places In Hungary, thus at the University of Szeged, southern Hungary, there is a Latin-American research team, led by