Ayahuasqueros
Film by Stephan Crasneanscki
A RADIO ESSAY BY JEREMY NARBY
Featuring Victor Nieto and Ushamano Walter Martinez
In collaboration with Francisco Lopez
Environmental recordings from the Peruvian forest
La poésie n'est pas une solution /// France Culture, Summer 2012
Mixed by Dug Winningham
SYNOPSIS
In their visions, ayahuasca shamans say they see the essences that animate living beings, the first property of which is to emit melodies.
These essences are considered powerful beings, and ayahuasqueros learn their melodies by singing along. Singing like powerful beings, they learn to see like them, and this gives them knowledge. The melodies that shamans bring back from their visions are called "icaros"; they help navigate the space of ayahuasca consciousness, and can also serve as lifelines when overwhelmed by visions. Grab onto the icaros: these songs are made of knowledge.