A figurative drawing by Gustavo Caboco Wapichana in the colours brown and white. It shows a stylised object reminiscent of a kind of rattle.
Irineu Nje'a Terena during his performance The Birth of a Koixomuneti on stage at the festival centre: Irineu squats barefoot on a bamboo mat wearing a long white robe and a band with feathers around his head. He paints his right arm with red paint, his left arm is already painted with black and red paint. In front of him on the floor are several objects, including chains, an instrument reminiscent of a flute and a clay pot.
Irineu Nje'a Terena during his performance The Birth of a Koixomuneti in the festival centre: Irineu stands barefoot on a surface of wood chips, wearing a long white robe and a ribbon with feathers around his head. His face and arms are painted red and black. He is holding a vessel in his hands, which he is offering to a person from the audience. The person can be seen from behind and is sitting on a bamboo mat on the floor.

The Birth of a Koixomuneti

Irineu Nje'a Terena

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A Koixomuneti is a spiritual leader in the Terena culture. During the Ohekoti spiritual ceremonies, he sings, spins his itaaká, and passes another powerful instrument, the Kipahé, over people’s bodies. According to Irineu Nje’a Terenas father, Cassiano Sebastião, the word Koixomuneti translates to “one who seeks wisdom.” Today, regardless of ethnicity – whether indigenous or not – we are all seeds, continuations of our ancestors. In Irineu Nje’a Terenas view, anyone who begins to seek wisdom is born a Koixomuneti.

Production credits

Drawing Gustavo Caboco Wapichana Photos Mehdi Amiri