Song of the Amazon

The Shipibo peoples’ name comes from the Saddleback Tamarin monkey which is called shipi in their language and known as the “pichico” in Spanish. They were thought to resemble this adorable little fellow after drinking a traditional beverage called masato from small ceramic bowls, which leaves a white mark around their lips just like the Saddleback Tamarin.

Made from yucca, masato provides daily nourishment for many Amazonian Indigenous groups. In traditional Shipibo celebrations, such as the Ani Sheati, the masato is fermented and enjoyed as an alcoholic beverage.

painting by Reshin Bima

“In the ceremony, Ayahuasca connects with you and transmits healing through your icaro (healing song). The medicine guides you— when the energy is more intense, the icaros are also more intense. The icaro allows you to break through the intensity and return to the light.”
 
~ Maestro Armando Cerrano

Animated from paintings of Shipibo artist collective Barin Bababo.Video & Animation by Psicopompo Perro Negro. Translated to English by Song of the Amazon.

 
In this video, Maestro Curandero (Master Healer) Armando Cerrano Alvarez and Elmer Bima Inuma share knowledge on the Amazonian Shipibo-Konibo worldview.
 
The Shipibo recognize an inherent spirit and connectedness that exists among all things. At the moment of our birth, a person’s first thought is considered to be the manifestation of their spirit, which the Shipibo call shiná.
 
Plants, animals, elements of nature and the universe also have a shiná and sentient consciousness. Certain plants, sometimes referred to as “master” or “medicine” plants, embody the power of Nature, and are known to be teachers of knowledge and protectors of the forest.
 
“Not all plants are medicinal— those that are offer us their wisdom. Everyone has a natural connection with this knowledge. However, in the city it is very difficult to establish this connection, because many systems exist that act like curtains or veils, making our connection with nature or ‘the knowledge’ difficult to maintain. Through medicinal plants we can establish a bridge and regain this knowledge.” -Maestro Armando Cerrano

“Canto de la Maestra” painting by Reshin Bima.

“I practice a spiritual life of traditional medicine passed on to me by my grandparents. The ayahuasca is one of our medicinal plants, very sacred, that we use to cure. Our health, within the Shipibo-Konibo is maintained by the healers.” – Maestro Juan Agustin Fernandez

The ayahuasca ceremony is conducted by a Master Healer (Maestra Curandera) for the healing of the body, the mind and the spirit. The Maestro or Maestra connects with the spirit of the plant medicine through the singing of songs and receives visions which offer them insight. These songs, called icaros, are sung in order to access the kingdom of the plant spirits, to navigate visionary realms and to conduct healing.

Our friends at Psicopompo Perro Negro Cultural Association providing an animation workshop to children at the Festival de Cultura Viva en Comunidad (Festival of Cultural Life in Community) in Villa el Salvador, Lima, Peru.

As part of our community empowerment initiative, Song of the Amazon is excited to be teamed up with Psicopompo Perro Negro Cultural Association. Psicopompo Perro Negro works to promote diversity and preserve the cultural voice by creating animated videos with children and young people. They use animation to promote education, healthy practices, and as vehicles for the dissemination and protection of cultural values.

The following stop-animation video was created with the Shipibo community of San Francisco Yarinacocha in Pucallpa, Peru. Song of the Amazon’s Layner Mori (Reshin Bima) took part in making this delightful short as part of Psicopompo Perro Negro’s youth animation workshop. Notice the characters in traditional Shipibo dress!

Psicopompo Perro Negro uses art making as a tool to empower the cultural wealth dwelling within the heart of native peoples to stand against those who believe they can destroy a hill, a lake or a forest in the name of progress. Check out more of their videos on their YouTube channel.