South American Indians

[Klondike]

Originally Posted by gringuito

Not to burst anyone's bubble here, but the majority of the photos taken here are done, well, for show. :-)
I have traveled abroad quite a bit and have visited a few of these. A couple of these photos I recognize from bora bora, near Iquitos in Peru. I have even spoken with a few 'tribal members' who speak a fair amount of English, which is mandatory in schools there.

The dances are performed at encampments arranged to appear like isolated camps. These encampments are normally located outside the town/city. The women in the photos are paid to perform in the rituals/dances. Quite commonly, afterward, they dress up and with their friends go shopping or dancing in the nearby city. You might have noticed some have tanlines, clothing markings and such. The dances are planned, choreographed, and even advertised to tourists.

Just a note, the truly isolated indigenous camps we all remember sparking our curiosity as boys from natl geographic who actually hunt with spears, live and dance in the nude, etc are VERY difficult to get to (say a matter of days by river and hiking). They don't speak a word of spanish or portuguese (much less english) are nervous with outsiders and cameras, and some can even be a little dangerous. However, a big thanks, the photos are fantastic!

Interesting.

Looking back at some of Pennywiseguy2's pics, I notice spectators (one looks like an American with a camera), cars, sound equipment, etc. Not what you would expect to see on an anthropological visit.

Question - so the performers are really Peruvian indians and not Xingu indians? Those aren't wigs they are wearing, are they? Also, the presence of children is curious but I guess they are going all out to make it look authentic.

Because there is so much nudity here, one wonders about the sponsership of this and the "why's". One theory might be that they hold these because they don't want Peruvians hungry for this type of "entertainment" to bother the "real" indians and take long and risky journeys into the amazon. Or they just want to make some money in which case they would charge admission. It doesn't appear to be so well attended though that you could see anyone getting fat off of this. But I guess even a few tourist dollars can go a long way in a poor little town.

Klondike

[Fred6027]

Originally Posted by gringuito

Not to burst anyone's bubble here, but the majority of the photos taken here are done, well, for show. :-)
I have traveled abroad quite a bit and have visited a few of these. A couple of these photos I recognize from bora bora, near Iquitos in Peru. I have even spoken with a few 'tribal members' who speak a fair amount of English, which is mandatory in schools there.

The dances are performed at encampments arranged to appear like isolated camps. These encampments are normally located outside the town/city. The women in the photos are paid to perform in the rituals/dances. Quite commonly, afterward, they dress up and with their friends go shopping or dancing in the nearby city. You might have noticed some have tanlines, clothing markings and such. The dances are planned, choreographed, and even advertised to tourists.

Just a note, the truly isolated indigenous camps we all remember sparking our curiosity as boys from natl geographic who actually hunt with spears, live and dance in the nude, etc are VERY difficult to get to (say a matter of days by river and hiking). They don't speak a word of spanish or portuguese (much less english) are nervous with outsiders and cameras, and some can even be a little dangerous. However, a big thanks, the photos are fantastic!

whoa !! This is quite a let - down , dude

It IS still quite a show , though

[P2003]

Thanks for these, they're fascinating. Can someone post the original link?

[squizzlydiddly]

Hello,

i've found this article on the www. Link: http://www.bizarrebrazil.com/2007/04/

There's just one picture inside...wouldn't post it because it is watermarked.

Women’s party

This kind of feast is rare, and has no precise time to happen (this one happened in 1974). One day Takuman, the page (chief of the tribe*) after take care of a sick man who was almost crazy of pain and seeing monstrous women, decided that it was time to provide this special party called Yamurikuma, where only women take part. They sing, dance and fight like man. At the end of the party they all bath at the river. We could say, they become Amazonas** for one day!

* Kamayura tribe (National Park of Xingu, Brazil)
** the legendary Amazon women warriors

[squizzlydiddly]

Found this fine image:

Mehinako Indigenous People , Xingu , Amazon rainforest , Brazil
Two girls washing in River and group of women bodypainting.

[Klondike]

what separates this from most tribal nudity is the way the naked women often gather en masse. Its just part of the tradition and you don't see this in African tribal pics or anywhere else. Kinda cool..

Klondike

[squizzlydiddly]

Here some very fine photographs of South American Indian women from different tribes.
All are from Brazil. Found on this website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/klausdg...7606165986019/
The site gives good informations about the tribes and their territories.

Hope you appreciate them!

[squizzlydiddly]

Originally Posted by Klondike

what separates this from most tribal nudity is the way the naked women often gather en masse. Its just part of the tradition and you don't see this in African tribal pics or anywhere else. Kinda cool..

Klondike

Yes Klondike, that's true. And for those people nudity is a completely natural part of their lives and way of being. Not as for most other cultures on this world. I've seen a movie about this not long ago, where a spanish missionary was sent to South America to a tribe. He was somehow shocked and fascinated too by their very natural behaviour with nudity and sexuality. But he was mentally confused and split up, and at the end he got mad. The church dogma again distorted his natural perception and attitude.

[tainted]

There was a show on the BBC a couple of years ago called Last Man Standing where they sent a group of athletes to South America to fight in the village wrestling tournaments. The native girls in the background were lined up naked exactly like these in the photos (didnt see a huge amount though). But fighting and nudity is definitely a great combo!

[Klondike]

Originally Posted by tainted

There was a show on the BBC a couple of years ago called Last Man Standing where they sent a group of athletes to South America to fight in the village wrestling tournaments. The native girls in the background were lined up naked exactly like these in the photos (didnt see a huge amount though). But fighting and nudity is definitely a great combo!

mmmm.....a vid would be nice.

I think the Peruvians are definately trying to "one up" on the tourist trade....

Klondike