Sounds from the Amazon to the world
Releasing a CD and a film, the Ashaninka Indians perform in São Paulo and want the world to know their culture
Nana Vaz de Castro
08/11/2000
Some anthropologists say that the Brazilian people come from the mixture of whites, blacks and Indians. On a daily basis, though, the Portuguese and African cultures prevail over those of the natives. In music, the discrepancy is even bigger. Indigenous music in Brazil hardly ever goes beyond simple anthropologic curiosity, maybe even getting less press here than abroad. But there are exceptions. One is the work developed by musician Marlui Miranda, who released albums with music by the Nambiqwara, Kaiapó, Tukano, Pakaa Nova, Jaboti, Suruí, Yanomami, Suyá, Parakaná, Karitiana, Tupari and Juruna peoples.
Another is the recently released Homapãni, with music by the Ashaninka Indians, produced along with a documentary, thanks to the financial support of a number of foundations, NGOs, associations and governmental laws for culture incentive. About 61 thousand Ashaninka live in the Amazon region between Peru (60 thousand) and Brazil (1 thousand), in the northern state of Acre. According to executive producer (of the CD and of the film) Nicole Algranti, the Ashaninka are among the noblest people in the area due to their culture, spirituality and organization. Their rituals are richly punctuated by music played with flutes, drums and vocals, as registered on the CD.
"The Ashaninka believe that Brazil does not know its indigenous nations. They long for recognition and respect all over the territory, and not only in Acre", say Nicole, a Rio de Janeiro native who lived in the forest for 8 years. She also points out that, in their region, the Ashaninka are regarded as leadership by other native nations, since they’re more structured, selling goods produced by the group and maintaining one of the most active Indian associations in the country. Autonomy, though, was conquered after long battles that lasted 40 years, during which they worked in a semi-slavery regime for wood choppers.
Online sales
The first one thousand copies will be sold in a few stores, but mainly through the internet (taboca@openlink.com.br) and at the venues where an 8-piece Ashaninka band (one flutist, one singer and six percussionists) will perform around the country. "It’s been two years working on it, thanks to the financial support that we’ve managed to get. The movie, for instance, cost 15 thousand dollars, because we got discounts here and there – that is, apart from the 25 thousand dollars that we received from the Ford Foundation for the payroll", says Nicole, who directed the film. The Ashaninka are not the first ones to have a full CD out in the market. Kraós, Xavantes and Yawanawas have also registered their music on discs. "These products, CDs and movies, circulate among the indigenous peoples, who get to know each other better", claims the producer.
Another is the recently released Homapãni, with music by the Ashaninka Indians, produced along with a documentary, thanks to the financial support of a number of foundations, NGOs, associations and governmental laws for culture incentive. About 61 thousand Ashaninka live in the Amazon region between Peru (60 thousand) and Brazil (1 thousand), in the northern state of Acre. According to executive producer (of the CD and of the film) Nicole Algranti, the Ashaninka are among the noblest people in the area due to their culture, spirituality and organization. Their rituals are richly punctuated by music played with flutes, drums and vocals, as registered on the CD.
"The Ashaninka believe that Brazil does not know its indigenous nations. They long for recognition and respect all over the territory, and not only in Acre", say Nicole, a Rio de Janeiro native who lived in the forest for 8 years. She also points out that, in their region, the Ashaninka are regarded as leadership by other native nations, since they’re more structured, selling goods produced by the group and maintaining one of the most active Indian associations in the country. Autonomy, though, was conquered after long battles that lasted 40 years, during which they worked in a semi-slavery regime for wood choppers.
Online sales
The first one thousand copies will be sold in a few stores, but mainly through the internet (taboca@openlink.com.br) and at the venues where an 8-piece Ashaninka band (one flutist, one singer and six percussionists) will perform around the country. "It’s been two years working on it, thanks to the financial support that we’ve managed to get. The movie, for instance, cost 15 thousand dollars, because we got discounts here and there – that is, apart from the 25 thousand dollars that we received from the Ford Foundation for the payroll", says Nicole, who directed the film. The Ashaninka are not the first ones to have a full CD out in the market. Kraós, Xavantes and Yawanawas have also registered their music on discs. "These products, CDs and movies, circulate among the indigenous peoples, who get to know each other better", claims the producer.