Yawanawá Festival - Voices of the Forest

Introducing the UK’s first Yawanawá Festival: Voices of the Forest.

In partnership with Projeto Terra Do Sol, we are proud to be hosting the Yawanawá for a day of knowledge sharing, celebration and ceremony, at Lopemede Farm on Saturday 1st June.

The Yawanawá are an Indigenous group from the Gregorio River region of the Brazilian Rainforest. They have ancient ancestral knowledge to share, which can teach us all how to live in deeper connection with nature and with each other.

Join us for a day of activities and experiences, guided by our Yawanawá hosts, where we’ll experience the ancient origins of plant medicines, and the folklore and meaning behind Yawanawá songs, music, art and ceremonies.

The festival will be based in the beautiful new Firelight Tipi at Lopemede Farm: a traditional farm which is undergoing an exciting rewilding program that aims to plant 50,000 trees over the next 10-years.

Activities and experiences to expect:

• An opening yoga flow and grounding meditation
• Conversations with the Yawanawá about the ancient origins of indigenous plant medicines
• Performance of traditional songs from the forest
• Rapé circle (Sacred Tobacco, Pronounced “ha-pey”)
• Tree planting ceremony
• Discover the meaning of traditional Yawanawá songs
• Body Painting and the cosmologies behind these drawings and patterns
• Delicious, healthy, organic plant-based food
• Cacao and non-alcoholic bar
• A closing concert and traditional Yawanawá dancing (Mariri)

For the Kids:

• Rainforest themed crafty corner and face painting with Renboga.

Optional Extras (for an additional cost):

• Kambô - £65 minimum donation - Please email: familyokama@proton.me to enquire & book.
• Sauna - Details will be shared in a follow up email to all ticketholders
• Massage - Details will be shared in a follow up email to all ticketholders
• Herbal Baths - Details will be shared in a follow up email to all ticketholders

About our Yawanawá hosts:

We’re honoured that we’ll be joined by three members of the Yawanawá Family for this special day:

Shaneihu Yawanawá (pronounced “Sha-nay-who”)

Shaneihu is the Chief of the Yawarani village, on the banks of the Gregório River. He is a spiritual leader within his community and a scholar of traditional Yawanawá knowledge.

Shaneihu is also a guitarist and pioneer of the Yawanawá music. He released his third album “Waka” March this year and will be performing original and traditional music on the day.

Yawa Tume (pronounced “Ya-wah-too-mã”)

Yawa Tume is the daughter of Shekiteshke and Nani Kateyuve (Pai Nani), the revered elder and shaman of the Yawanawá people.

She has received wisdom from her parents since birth and has a captivating voice, with which she shares ancient medicine songs from the forest.

Yawa Tume lives most of her time with her family at Yawaraní village, where she produces traditional handcrafts and spreads healing and traditional knowledge among the young people of her tribe.

She is also a very talented painter of traditional kênas - sacred visions expressed through intricate body and textile paintings, which she will be demonstrating on the day.

Utxi Yawanawá (pronounced “Ou-chi”)

An apprentice of the Yawanawa spiritual path, Utxi is an excellent craftsman and musician for his people. On this tour he accompanies his companion Yawa Tume and his brother-in-law Shaneihu Yawanawa.

Timings for the day:

8:00 - 9:30: Optional Kambo - Email: familyokama@proton.me to enquire & book

10:00 - 11:00: Yoga and Grounding Meditation

11:00 - 11:30: Opening Ceremony and tree planting (Shaneihu, Yawa Tume and Utxi to each plans a tree)

11:30 - 12:00: FIRST RAPÉ CIRCLE

12:00 - 13:30: A conversation with the Yawanawá: Connecting with nature, strengthening community and the ancient origins of indigenous medicines.

13:30 - 14:00: SECOND RAPÉ CIRCLE

14:00 - 16:00: Body Painting and Rapé Circles

16:00 - 16:30: THIRD RAPÉ CIRCLE

16:30 - 18:00: The power and symbolism of the fire in Indigenous culture (with offerings and intention setting)

18:30 - 21:00: Mariri and Closing Concert

Note: Sadly there is no camping permitted on site.

Profits from this event will go directly to supporting the preservation of Yawanawá culture in the Gregorio River Region of the Brazilian Rainforest.