Deep in the dense jungle, untouched by modern culture, the Yanomami tribe retains many strange customs, some of which are even rather gruesome: cremating the dead and using their ashes as food; young girls being confined in small cages, fasting for a week…
Questions
Question 1: Where does the Yanomami tribe live?
A – The border between Venezuela and Brazil
B – The border between Colombia and Brazil
C – The border between Peru and Brazil
Question 2: Do the Yanomami believe that the soul lives on forever?
A – True
B – False
Question 3: Where do the Yanomami keep the ashes of the deceased?
A – Wooden urn
B – Buffalo horn
C – Dried gourd
Question 4: What main dish is mixed with the ashes of the deceased?
A – Corn soup
B – Banana soup
C – Potato soup
The Yanomami have many strange and gruesome customs.
Question 5: Where does the Yanomami tribe usually gather?
A – In the forest
B – In open fields
C – In a Shabono house
Question 6: At what age is a Yanomami boy considered a man?
A – 8 years old
B – 9 years old
C – 10 years old
Question 7: What ritual must Yanomami girls undergo at the age of 10-12?
A – Virginity ritual
B – Coming of age ritual
C – Worship ritual
Question 8: What traditional beauty practices do the Yanomami have?
A – Body tattooing
B – Painting designs
C – Piercing through the chin
D – All of the above
Question 9: What do the Yanomami often wear on their heads for decoration?
A – Deer antlers
B – Bird feathers
C – Leaves
Answers
Question 1: Answer A: Hidden deep within the Amazon rainforest, on the border between Venezuela and Brazil lives the Yanomami indigenous tribe (also known as Yanam or Senema), one of the most mysterious tribes in the world with a population of about 20,000 people. Since their first discovery in 1929, this tribe has lived in a wild state like their ancestors, without contact with the outside world and has maintained many strange customs.
Question 2: Answer A – True. The Yanomami believe that a world of spirits exists parallel to the world of the living. The body may perish, but the soul remains. The body must be protected for the deceased to rest peacefully so that the soul can be reborn. And what better way to achieve this than to… consume the ashes of the deceased, merging the bodies of the dead and the living.
Question 3: Answer C – Dried gourd. When a member of the tribe passes away, the most respected male in the tribe will carry out this important ritual. The deceased will be thoroughly washed with water boiled from forest leaves, and all personal belongings, including clothes, knives, and bows, will be cleaned. The body is placed on a pyre, and the officiant will set it ablaze for cremation. During this time, men will oversee the fire day and night until everything turns to ash. After the ashes cool, they will be ground into a fine powder, kept in dried gourds, and placed in the most honored spot in the deceased’s home.
Question 4: Answer B – Banana soup. About a year after the cremation of the deceased, the Yanomami will prepare various dishes using the ashes or add them as seasoning to other foods, with the main dish being banana soup. The ashes are mixed with mashed bananas and cooked. A portion of the remaining ashes will be put into a long bamboo tube, one person blows strongly while another inhales deeply through their nose. However, if the deceased was killed by an enemy, only women are allowed to consume the ashes.
Question 5: Answer C – In a Shabono house. The tribe gathers under a communal shabono roof. On average, a shabono is circular, about 90 meters in circumference, made from natural materials like leaves and vines. Every 4-6 years, the Yanomami dismantle the old shabono and build a new one.
Question 6: Answer A – 8 years old. In the Yanomami tribe, boys are considered men when they turn 8 years old, while girls are regarded as women upon their first menstruation. They have clearly defined roles, enjoy tattooing, and possess extensive knowledge of nature. The Yanomami are also skilled in crafting and using plant-based poisons. The men in the tribe are very aggressive, ready to “fight” at any threat, regardless of the bloodshed involved.
Question 7: Answer B – Coming of age ritual. Yanomami girls, upon reaching 10-12 years of age, must undergo a painful coming of age ritual. They are confined in a small cage for a month, with no food or drink during the first week. Afterward, the girls are released, decorated with body paint, and presented to the village elders as mature women.
Question 8: Answer D – All of the above. The Yanomami have peculiar beauty traditions during important ceremonies. In addition to decorating themselves with strange red and black designs, they also use bamboo sticks or vines to pierce through their noses, chins, or cheeks.
Question 9: Answer B – Bird feathers. Along with body tattooing and chin piercings, the Yanomami also have a custom of adorning their heads with bird feathers for decoration.
