Immerse yourself in the enchanting rhythms of the Amazon, supporting indigenous people through music, sacred ceremonies, and vibrant art.
We are so excited to host Rasu, Turuyume, Anihu and Kenemani Yawanawa for an unforgettable night of music, sacred rapeh ceremony, indigenous art, ayahuasca and visionary plant education, and Amazonian culture. 🌍🎶
Join us for two remarkable evenings that will transcend geographical borders and immerse you in the vibrant spirit of the Brazilian Amazon. This is a unique, multi-faceted event in Santa Cruz, California, where we come together to support and celebrate the Yawanawa people, welcoming in leaders of an indigenous community from the heart of the Brazilian jungle. This is a special and unique opportunity to learn directly from the tribe about their wisdom and traditions.
When purchasing tickets please be mindful of which date you are signing up for. We will be hosting TWO very powerful events here in Santa Cruz:
9/24 Cultural Immersion, Hape Circle & Live Music
10/1 🎶 Saiti Class Workshop
About the Saiti Class Workshop
If you have been captivated by the music of the Yawanawa tribe, this is going to be the musical intensive you've been waiting for. For the first time ever, Rasu, Turuyume, Anihu and Kenemani Yawanawa will be teaching us how to sing their beautiful songs called Saitis. Ususally only shared when people commit to completing a dieta with their indigenous tribe, they will be passing us a selection of their songs while helping to guide us with correct melodies & pronunciations. Their sound current is such a unique and powerful spiritual technology that helps people to weave through their energetic states in traditional prayer ceremonies and in everyday life. Empower your voice, welcome the healing force of the jungle into your body and connect with like minded people in your community to support our Yawanawa relatives from the Brazilian Amazon.
🎸Live Music Concert
Let the rhythms and prayers of the rainforest enchant your soul as we present an extraordinary lineup of musicians, each bringing a piece of the Amazon to Santa Cruz. Experience the traditional sounds of the Yawanawa, in a concert that promises to transport you to the heart of the jungle.
🎨 Indigenous Art Market
Explore a curated art market featuring exquisite creations from indigenous artists and artisans. Explore sacred geometry designs and ancient art from the jungle. You can support these talented artists while taking home a piece of the Amazon's rich cultural heritage by acquiring jewelry, rapeh and handcrafted exquisite pieces.
🎙️ Q&A Session
Ask your burning questions and engage in an interactive dialogue with our teachers. Gain a deep understanding of the spiritual ancient wisdom of this community.
⭐ Supporting Indigenous Communities
By attending this event, you're not only immersing yourself in an evening of cultural expansion, but also actively contributing to the well-being and empowerment of the Yawanawa Tribe and honoring reciprocity of indigenous peoples. A significant portion of the proceeds will be directed towards the preservation of indigenous culture in the Brazilian rainforest and fundraise for their village's food sovereignty project.
Experience the magic of the Amazon right here in the bay area, where we come together as a community to celebrate the force and vitality of the forest and its indigenous guardians. Let's stand together in solidarity, recognizing the importance of preserving these vital cultures and their natural habitats. Together, we can make a difference and support these indigenous communities as they share their traditions and wisdom with the world.
**Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot now and be part of this incredible celebration of indigenous culture!**
Interested in volunteering with us? We are looking for volunteers to help us at this event. Email us: jazzurlove@gmail.com to volunteer. Volunteers receive a free ticket to the event.
About the Yawanawa :
The Yawanawa people live along the banks of the Gregorio River, in the Brazilian state of Acre. They are the guardians of some 200,000 hectares of Amazonian rainforest, of which about 95% is kept intact. In the most biodiverse biome on the planet, their ancestors developed a vast knowledge of the healing plants of the forest and a cosmovision of great spiritual wisdom.
The Yawanawa's first contact with the non-indigenous world happened a little over a hundred years ago. The initial conflicts reduced the Yawanawa family to less than 100 people. For decades they endured the presence of the rubber industry and the missionaries who invaded their lands and tried to forbid Yawanawá language, culture and spirituality. In the 1980s, their fight for the recognition of their ancestral territory led the Yawanawá to become the first indigenous people to obtain the official rights to their lands in the state of Acre.
Under the guidance and teachings of pajés Tata and Yawa, the last living elders and medicine men of their people, the Yawanawa have been on a profound journey of cultural and spiritual revival. Their sacred rituals, prayers, songs and art are now celebrated all year round. In the last 20 years, the Yawanawa leaders have been dedicated to developing a model of sustainability that allows them to engage with the outside world on their own terms, without compromising their cultural and spiritual identity. Nowadays, the Yawanawa population is estimated at over 1000 people, 80% of which are children and youth. The new generations carry their identity with pride and are committed to the continuation of the legacy of their ancestors.
In the last decade the Yawanawa youth introduced instruments such as guitars, flutes and drums into their traditional ceremonies and prayers, and an exceptional musical culture has been rising from deep in the Amazon rainforest. Combined with their powerful voices, Yawanawa music is now known around the world and the new generation of Yawanawa leaders travel the world to share the message of the forest through their ancestral prayers and phenomenal music.
Rasu
Rasu is the grandson of the great medicine man and xinaya Tata Txanu Natasheini, who was one of the most respected elders and wise men of the Yawanawa people. When he was born, Rasu was chosen and raised by Tata to be his successor, and was one of his closest students until Tata passed away a few years back at 103 years old. Rasu speaks his native language fluently and was the youngest Yawanawa to complete the highest spiritual initiation of his people, at only 17 years old. He is currently one of the chiefs of Mutum village, leading the ceremonies and taking care of tribal affairs alongside Chief Matsini. Rasu carries his grandfather’s lineage in his powerful voice and prayers, and he is a very talented multiinstrumentalist musician and composer.
Turuyume Yawanawa
Turuyume Yawanawa, daughter of the great student and artisan Nainawa, wise men of the medicinal plants and medicines of the forest. From an early age she was guided in the path of the medicines of the forest as this is the tradition of her people. Married for 10 years with the leader Pekarasu Yawanawa, she is a dedicated mother of four children and brings her beautiful voice within the Saitis.
Kenemani
Kenemani is the daughter of Chief and spiritual leader Matsini Yawanawa. She comes from a long line of leaders and was raised as such. Following her ancestor's footsteps and legacy in Mutum village, she has been in contact with the medicines, dietas and the spiritual studies of the Yawanawa since a very young age. Her dedication to her spiritual studies shows through in the strength of her prayers and she is an inspiration for the new generations in her community. She is an incredible musician with a strong, captivating voice and composes beautiful music on the guitar with the saitis, the sacred Yawanawa songs.
Anihu
Anihu is the younger brother of the leader Rasu Yawanawa and acts as his right-hand man in traditional ceremonies. Son of the great artisan and warrior Tsatsa Wanu, and grandson of the venerable spiritual leader Tatá, Anihu began his journey through the medicines of the forest at age 12. With humility and a powerful voice, he keeps alive the tradition of his lineage in the Saitis.