Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dancing for death: The Amazon tribesmen putting on a colourful display in a memorial display stretching back centuries

It is a display fit for heroes.
These amazing photographs show how members of an indigenous tribe in the Amazonian Basin of Brazil gathered to honour in death people who are of great importance to them.
Decorating themselves with impressive markings and wearing colourful headdresses, the Yawalapiti tribe members danced and wrestled in an extraordinary spectacle known as the 'quarup'.
Yawalapiti men wrestle as part of this year's 'quarup,' a ritual held over several days to honour in death a person of great importance to them
Yawalapiti men dance during the celebration of this year's 'quarup,' a ritual held over several days to honour in death a person of great importance to them
Ritual: Yawalapiti men wrestle (left) and dance (right) as part of this year's 'quarup', which is held over several days to honour in death a person of great importance to them
Gripping: Two tribe members, dressed in colourful robes, wrestle in the dust during the ritual
Gripping: Two tribe members, dressed in colourful robes, wrestle in the dust during the ritual
Contest: The men fall to the ground as other members of the tribe watch on during the ritual, which runs for several days
Contest: The men fall to the ground as other members of the tribe watch on during the ritual, which runs for several days
Event: Dozens of men were involved in the wrestling activities during the quarup ritual
Event: Dozens of men were involved in the wrestling activities during the quarup ritual

Spectacular: The wrestlers decorated their bodies with brightly coloured markings before going into battle
Spectacular: The wrestlers decorated their bodies with brightly coloured markings before going into battle
The ritual, which has been held for centuries, lasts several days.
This year the tribe was photographed as it honoured a Yawalapiti Indian who they consider a great leader.
 
They also honoured Darcy Ribeiro, a well-known author, anthropologist and politician known for focusing on the relationship between native peoples and education in Brazil.
The tribe lives in the village Yawalapiti, which is located to the south of the Amazonian Basin, between the Tuatuari and Kuluene rivers.
Organised: Yawalapiti men, some bearing sticks, dance in formation during this year's quarup
Organised: Yawalapiti men, some bearing sticks, dance in formation during this year's quarup
Getting a lift: Three members of the tribe, all with their hair coloured red, ride on a motorcycle during a break between events
Getting a lift: Three members of the tribe, all with their hair coloured red, ride on a motorcycle during a break between events
Welcome: A Yawalapiti man (right) greets a man from another tribe who arrived to attend this year's quarup
Welcome: A Yawalapiti man (right) greets a man from another tribe who arrived to attend this year's quarup
Prepared: Yawalapiti men stand with their spears on the bank of the Tuatuari river
Prepared: Yawalapiti men stand with their spears on the bank of the Tuatuari river

Resourceful: The men use their spears to fish so they can feed guests at the quarup
Resourceful: The men use their spears to fish so they can feed guests at the quarup

Catch of the day: A Yawalapiti boy holds a cachorra or vampire fish that was caught by the tribesmen when they went fishing
Catch of the day: A Yawalapiti boy holds a cachorra or vampire fish that was caught by the tribesmen when they went fishing
Time for dinner: A woman holds a large fish that the tribesmen caught in the Tuatuari River
Time for dinner: A woman holds a large fish that the tribesmen caught in the Tuatuari River
The tribe's population was last recorded at 156, although it has grown significantly from a low of 25 in 1954.
The Yawalapiti's first known contact with Europeans was recorded in 1887, when it was visited by German anthropologist Karl von den Steinen.
It is one of four tribes living in the Xingu Indian Park, in the Upper Xingu region.
The others are the Kiabi, Yudja and Suya tribes.
Commitment: The men of the Yawalapiti tribe continued to dance as the sun went down
Commitment: The men of the Yawalapiti tribe continued to dance as the sun went down
Tradition: A Yawalapiti man warms himself by a fire after bathing in the Tuatuari river
Tradition: A Yawalapiti man warms himself by a fire after bathing in the Tuatuari river
Dressed for the occasion: A Yawalapiti man's large headwear stands out in this photograph taken at sunset
Dressed for the occasion: A Yawalapiti man's large headwear stands out in this photograph taken at sunset
Music: Tribesmen played bamboo flutes as they honoured two people - a Yawalapiti Indian, who they consider a great leader, and the anthropolgist Darcy Ribeiro
Music: Tribesmen played bamboo flutes as they honoured two people - a Yawalapiti Indian, who they consider a great leader, and the anthropolgist Darcy Ribeiro
Playing with fire: Yawalapiti men perform a ceremony between cousins during the celebration of this year's quarup
Playing with fire: Yawalapiti men perform a ceremony between cousins during the celebration of the quarup
Remote: A photograph of the Yawalapiti village, taken at night, before the ritual lasting several days got under way
Remote: A photograph of the Yawalapiti village, taken at night, before the ritual got under way
Respectful: A man and woman from the Yawalapiti tribe take a moment to reflect as they honour a former great leader
Respectful: Two members of the Yawalapiti tribe take a moment to reflect as they honour a former great leader

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