Yanomamo: The Fierce People

Bifurcate Merging Kinship is an anthropological term for a kinship system that has different words for relatives on the mother’s and father’s sides but merges the terms for certain relatives of the same gender on each side. The bifurcation typically occurs for cross-cousins, the children of opposite-gender siblings, and merging for parallel cousins, or the children of same-gender siblings. The system used by the Yanomami focuses on the patrilineal line. For example, men of the same patrilineal line of the same generation are all classified as “brothers.” This way of viewing kinship is especially important for the Yanomami to distinguish relationships that are appropriate from those that are considered to be a form of incest.

Cultural anthropology focuses on the study of human cultures, societies, and behaviors. Anthropologists in this field explore human diversity, examining how societies are organized and how cultural practices shape (and are shaped by) humans. The discipline employs a holistic approach that analyzes language, social structures, beliefs, customs, rituals, and material culture. Cultural anthropologists conduct extensive fieldwork, often immersing themselves in the communities they study to understand their cultural nuances.

Curare is a plant-derived paralytic poison that the Indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest, including the Yanomami, traditionally use for hunting. The Yanomami create curare with a combination of plant extracts, and the primary active ingredient is tubocurarine. It paralyzes by interfering with nerve transmission to muscles. When applied to arrowheads, curare is an effective tool for immobilizing prey. The Yanomami rely on the curare’s swift paralytic effects to bring down animals like monkeys, birds, or other game. The use of curare aids in successful hunting and minimizes the risk of injuring the animal’s meat, making it a crucial element in the Yanomami’s traditional hunting techniques.

Endocannibalism is the cultural practice of consuming the flesh or remains of individuals from one’s social group or community. This ceremonial act is often embedded in cultural, religious, or social traditions. It is distinct from cannibalism involving members of other groups, which is referred to as exocannibalism. The Yanomami form of endocannibalism is tied to their funerary rites. They cremate their dead and collect the resulting ashes, which they grind into a fine powder. A small amount is consumed in plantain soup by the relatives of the deceased, while the rest is stored in gourd containers to be consumed one year later. This consumption of remains is done to ensure continued connection to the deceased in the afterlife.

An ethnography is a written study of a particular culture, society, or community conducted by an anthropologist or ethnographer. It involves firsthand observations of people’s daily lives, behaviors, customs, rituals, and social interactions. Ethnographers attempt to understand the intricacies of a group by immersing themselves in a specific culture, participating in their activities, conducting interviews, and gathering data. The goal is to provide a holistic and nuanced understanding of the community in question, and such fieldwork often results in a written account. Ethnographies offer insight into human cultures’ diversity and document how different societies organize and make sense of their existence.

A headman is a critical social and political figure within a Yanomami village. He holds a position of authority and leadership. While a headman’s specific duties and powers can vary, he often engages in decision-making in communal matters, conflict resolution, and representation of the village in interactions with neighboring communities. Despite these heavy responsibilities, the headman cannot command the people of his community. Instead, he is responsible for caring for them. The status of a headman is not hereditary; it may be influenced by individual achievements, such as success in warfare or effectiveness in mediating disputes. Kaobawä is the primary example of a headman in the book.

A shabono is a communal dwelling characteristic of the Yanomami people. This circular structure serves as the central living space for a Yanomami village. It accommodates multiple families within a large, open area and is surrounded by a circular outer wall. The shabono is built from a framework of wooden posts and thatched roofs made from palm leaves. The central area, often devoid of interior walls, functions as a shared space for various communal activities, such as cooking, socializing, and ceremonies. Individual families have designated areas along the inner periphery which are demarcated by palm-leaf partitions. The circular design facilitates a sense of community and fosters a collective lifestyle.

Yanomami shamans are individuals believed to possess the ability to command demons to do their bidding, for good or ill. They believe that these demons live inside the shamans’ chests. To become a shaman, a Yanomami man must participate in a rite requiring him to fast, abstain from sex, and use hallucinogenic substances to enter altered states of consciousness. A shaman’s duties include healing the sick and sending demons to attack enemy villages.