INDIGENOUS BRAZILIAN TRIBE MUSIC, DRUM & CHANTING EVENT
Outstandingly, this event was the most mystical, metaphysical, joyous presentation to ever occur at Hawaiian Sanctuary! On June 22, the YAWANAWA tribe from Brazil, performed their native chants from their traditions of plant medicine rituals to heal their village, their people and secure their sustainable lifestyle in the Amazon rainforest in the state of Acre, Brazil.
“The Yawanawa’s first contact with the non-indigenous world happened a little over a hundred years ago. The initial conflicts reduced the Yawanawa family to less than 100 people. For decades they endured the presence of the rubber industry and the missionaries who invaded their lands and tried to forbid Yawanawá language, culture and spirituality. In the 1980s, their fight for the recognition of their ancestral territory led the Yawanawá to become the first indigenous people to obtain official rights to their lands.”
The 3 young tribal members, brightly arrayed in handmade beadwork and natural cottons in their tribal colors from their village, presented themselves in their traditional painted faces with their chief in his signifying feather headdress. Members of the tribe joyfully belted out their ritualistic hymns surrounded by an entourage of apprentices that have been studying with the tribe for years and new supporters that had gathered as the Yawanawa traveled through Hawaii performing their songs. At first, acapella in deep yang male voices and drums, then adding instruments, primarily guitars and flutes, with lighter female voices, together the combined rhythms inspired dancing from the packed crowd of over 100 people attending the free event. A spontaneous “conga line” formed that danced and created unity among all the attendees as it snaked through the Laka Lounge at Hawaiian Sanctuary. Smiles, laughter, lightheartedness rose together, hovering over the open lodge in imaginary circles of unity, reminding us of the true meaning of “community”!
In addition to sharing their music and cultural traditions, the YAWANAWA TRIBE are here on a mission to raise money for their village to help perpetuate their self-sustaining lifestyle of farming, growing indigenous herbal plants and creating original beaded necklaces, bracelets & earrings.
For more information on the YAWANAWA TRIBE and how to make donations visit their website: nawabuculture@protonmail.com
Raydiance Joy Grace, Culture Critic for Puna Rising
Raydiance Joy Grace
Raydiance Joy Grace is a "Human Potentialist" who has studied with some of the greatest minds in this field when she lived in the 1960s & 1970s near "Esalen" in Big Sur, CA., the home of the "Personal Growth Movement" in America. She subsequently had her own TV & Radio show on transformation & consciousness in San Francisco Bay on K.E.S.T. personal growth radio & cable TV shows and an active counseling, lecturing & workshop leader career until she moved to Hawaii in 1997. She currently offers private counseling in Holistic Health & Spiritual Psychology & teaches NVC at Hawaiian Sanctuary.
In Love, Harmony & Beauty
Raydiance Joy Grace
