Nambiquara people Waihu ceremony
The Nambiquara people come from Matto Grosso in Brazil, and are this year’s guest people at the Riddu Riđđu festival. The Nambiquara are are one of the small tribal peoples of Brazil, numbering around 380 in the tribe. Their language is called Nambiquara language.
Nambiquara means "people with ear piercing", a name given to them by other indigenous people at the beginning of 20th century when these indigenous groups from Mato Grosso and Rondonia had the first contact with the western society.
Despite these 100 years of contact with farmers, loggers and others western influence, the Nambiquara are still a traditional people leaving in their territory, trying to survive in a very dry land with small quantities of animals for hunting and fishing. They maintain the rituals of dances, songs, flutes and body painting.
Handcrafts and sophisticated art are done with the natural material from the savannah. The main ritual for the Nambikuara is the Waiunitasu the rite of passage for girls after their first menstruation. The girls stay in isolation, for a few months, in a special little house made of palm tree branches. A feast of food and dance marks the end of this ritual. The feast lasts all night.
Another important ritual for the Nambiquara is Waihu, sacred flute playing. The flutes are made of bamboo. Each flute has a note, and the melody is made up of the different single sounds each individual player makes. This sacred flute playing is for men only and women are forbidden to see it.
At Førde and Riddu Riđđu Festivals the Nambiquara will play the sacred flutes in the Waihu ceremony.
Production: IDETI - Institute for Indigenous Tradition …quot; Rite of Passage Project
Despite these 100 years of contact with farmers, loggers and others western influence, the Nambiquara are still a traditional people leaving in their territory, trying to survive in a very dry land with small quantities of animals for hunting and fishing. They maintain the rituals of dances, songs, flutes and body painting.
Handcrafts and sophisticated art are done with the natural material from the savannah. The main ritual for the Nambikuara is the Waiunitasu the rite of passage for girls after their first menstruation. The girls stay in isolation, for a few months, in a special little house made of palm tree branches. A feast of food and dance marks the end of this ritual. The feast lasts all night.
Another important ritual for the Nambiquara is Waihu, sacred flute playing. The flutes are made of bamboo. Each flute has a note, and the melody is made up of the different single sounds each individual player makes. This sacred flute playing is for men only and women are forbidden to see it.
At Førde and Riddu Riđđu Festivals the Nambiquara will play the sacred flutes in the Waihu ceremony.
Production: IDETI - Institute for Indigenous Tradition …quot; Rite of Passage Project
Riddu Riđđu
Pb 237, NO-9144 Samuelsberg
Norway
Norway
Tlf: +47 77 71 64 04
Riddu Riđđu © 2012