Descripción: |
Cosmology and kinship are two important felds of anthropology, which have commonly been treated as separate domains. The objective of this ethnographic essay is the realization of an integrated analysis of the cosmology and kinship of the Maxakali Indians, through the description of processes of corporal transformation. All the inhabitants of the Maxakali cosmos have a soul. Thus, the difference between the species and the ethnic groups is constructed in the body. The process of construction of the human condition and the kinship is one and the same, evolving through the co-inhabitation, the corporal sameness, the observation of prescriptions related to the body, and the ritual relation with the yãmiy, the spirits. The non-observation of the prescriptions related to the body, the consumption of sugarcane rum or of the bamboo worm and the practice of incest are acts that cause the corporal transformations, implying in the loss of the human condition, when a Maxakali loses the knowledge of his or her kin and starts to act as inmõxã, the bad spirit.Key words: Maxakali, cosmology, kinship. El parentesco y la cosmología son dos importantes campos de la antropología que han sido tratados como dos zonas estancas. Ese es un ensayo etnográfco que tiene por objetivo la realización de un análisis integrado de la cosmología y del parentesco maxakali através de la descripción de los procesos de transformación del cuerpo. Todos los seres que habitan el cosmos maxakali tienen alma. Así, la diferencia entre las especies o grupos étnicos se construye en el cuerpo. El proceso de construcción de la condición humana y del parentesco es lo mismo, y se realiza por la co-vivienda, la similitud corporal, la observación de los resguardos y el ritual con los yãmiy, que son los espíritus. La interrupción del resguardo, el consumo de cachaça o del gusano de bambú y la práctica del incesto son los vectores de transformación del cuerpo que causan la pérdida de la condición humana, cuando un maxakali desconoce a sus familiares y pasa a actuar como inmõxã, el mal espíritu.Palabras-clave: Maxakali, cosmología, parentesco. Cosmology and kinship are two important felds of anthropology, which have commonly been treated as separate domains. The objective of this ethnographic essay is the realization of an integrated analysis of the cosmology and kinship of the Maxakali Indians, through the description of processes of corporal transformation. All the inhabitants of the Maxakali cosmos have a soul. Thus, the difference between the species and the ethnic groups is constructed in the body. The process of construction of the human condition and the kinship is one and the same, evolving through the co-inhabitation, the corporal sameness, the observation of prescriptions related to the body, and the ritual relation with the yãmiy, the spirits. The non-observation of the prescriptions related to the body, the consumption of sugarcane rum or of the bamboo worm and the practice of incest are acts that cause the corporal transformations, implying in the loss of the human condition, when a Maxakali loses the knowledge of his or her kin and starts to act as inmõxã, the bad spirit.Key words: Maxakali, cosmology, kinship. A cosmologia e o parentesco são dois importantes campos da antropologia que vêm sendo tratados como domínios estanques. Este é um ensaio etnográfco que tem como objetivo a realização de uma análise integrada da cosmologia e do parentesco dos índios Maxakali, através da descrição de processos de transformação corporal. Todos os seres habitantes do cosmos Maxakali possuem alma. Assim, a diferença entre as espécies ou grupos étnicos é construída no corpo. O processo de construção da condição humana e do parentesco é um só, e se dá através co-habitação, do assemelhamento corporal, da observação de resguardos e da relação ritual com os yãmiy, os espíritos. A quebra do resguardo, o consumo de cachaça ou do verme da taquara e a prática do incesto são vetores de transformação corporal que implicam na perda da condição humana, quando um maxakali desconhece seus parentes e passa a agir como inmõxã, o espírito ruim. Palavras-chave: Maxakali, cosmologia, parentesco. |