Feathers art of the Kayapò

Cuffia rori rori III° (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Feathers are present in all moments of the life of the Kayapò and one of their ancestral myths sees the killing of the great vulture Àkkàjkritti by twins who with his white feathers created headdresses to acquire the virtues of the great rapacious bird.

Akkàjkrittijamy (XXI Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò -AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

The Kayapo of the Amazon forest are masters in the creation of feather artifacts. The yellow and red macaw feathers are their favorite, for they tell the identity of the person and the differences between the various groups inside and outside the village. They express beauty and the desire to fly.

Pakam mànjamy (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò -AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Pakam mànjamy

Pair of ring bracelets with a white cotton band. A tuft of multicolored feathers and two long red tail feathers of macaw are sewn onto each of them. Worn by men around the biceps, during festivals where the macaw dances are performed.

Pakam mànpry (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò -AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Pakam mànpry

During festivals, men wear other ring bracelets of different crafting material. Bracelets in which the ring is covered with small multicolored macaw feathers sewn with brown cotton thread, with a bow of seeds and in whose cavity other feathers are placed.

Wôre kà II° (XXI Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò -AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Wôre kà 

Boys and girls wear these wrist bracelets at the time of their introduction to the community and during the naming ritual. The father creates them with a band of palm bark covered with intertwining fibers and decorated with long tail feathers and seeds.

Collare a Cravatta Õkretã (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Me-Õkretã 

Tied around the neck like a tie, they are the exclusivity to young people during the initiation period. It is made by the godfather or by whoever has inherited the privilege of producing it, and once the initiation is completed, it can be worn in all ceremonial feasts.

Ornamento Me Tekre-kamrenx (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Me Tekre-kamrenx 

Accessories with feathers, beads and nuts, they run down the back, worn by those who have the privilege of exhibiting them during rituals. They are generally reminiscent of happy events and are made with the carapace of freshwater tortoises, wild gourds, feathers and beads.

Scure rituale u-kax (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

U-kax ritual ax

Feathers decorated almost object used; from weapon to musical instruments, always with aim of making them more beautiful and cheerful. The ax formerly used to cut down plants, but today is donated by the sister to the brother about to get married and kept with care.

Diadema Me-àkkà Pari (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Me-àkkà Pari diadem

Upper part of a larger fan tiara. Literally it means "bird wings" and is part of the kit of the Kayapò warrior. However, it is also worn during weddings, and by the two heralds who sing and dance in preparation for naming ceremonies.

Diadema Me-àkkà Pari II° (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Me-akkà diadem 

One of the small polychrome diadems used only by men who have already taken part in some rituals, or who have received it as an inheritance or as a privilege linked to the name 'beautiful'. In the top center, there are always three red-blue macaw feathers.

Diadema Me-àkkà kryre (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Me-akkà kryre krwynh jamy diadem 

Small fan-shaped tiara made with blue macaw wing feathers and two inserts of black striped 'Crax globulosa' feathers. The parrot feathers are fixed on a large cotton cord with loose ends, one by one in close continuity.

Diadema Pejàtijamy êdjà-kam djà (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Pejàtijamy diadem êdjà-kam djà 

Large diadem of yellow caudal feathers of oropendola from the crest, used during the naming ceremonies of women and by those, of both sexes, who have inherited the privilege. Its swaying to the rhythm of the dance gives the idea of ​​a person flying

Tiara Kruwa-pu II° (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò -AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Tiara Kruwa-pu 

Head ornament placed around the forehead, it consists of a frame of 30-35 bamboo straws (taboca), covered with white cotton thread, with yellow caudal feathers of oropendula from the crest. Enriched in the center and at the ends with red macaw feathers.

Cuffia Rori-rori (XX Secolo) by Popolo Kayapò - AmazzoniaMuseo d'Arte Cinese ed Etnografico

Headphone Rori-rori 

Polychrome male headdress, made with feathers of various birds. Worn on the dancer's head, it conveys the idea of ​​lightness and is worn by members of the family that holds the privilege, or by those who received it as a gift and a sign of friendship.

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