The Shipibo-Konibo people have lived in the Amazon rainforest for thousands of years. Many of their traditions are still practiced, including their beautiful handicrafts, and the medicine of ayahuasca and other teacher plants, for which they are highly reputed. During ayahuasca ceremonies, Shipibos sing songs called icaros, which call upon the healing spirits of the jungle and plants. They are generally sung a capella, but some Shipibos have taken up the guitar as an accompaniment, probably inspired by the musicians from around the world who come to meet them.
For those unfamiliar with the Shipibo language, these chants can seem understandably mysterious. In fact, they are sung in the first person, with the shamans indicating that they are connecting, opening visions, strengthening energies, cleansing a patient’s body and so on. I was once chatting with the wife of a maestro, wondering why Shipibo shamans express themselves in this way, whereas in other traditions, the practitioner invokes the spirits and invites them to do the healing work. Her response was very interesting: she told me that Shipibos felt such a connection with plants, that they literally felt they were channeling them, and letting them express themselves through them. So when Shipibo shamans sing that they are healing or strengthening, for example, they experience these words as emanating from the plants themselves, of which they are merely the relay. They are, quite literally, an interface between the physical and spiritual worlds, and their body serves to anchor these healing energies in matter.
The Shipibo language used in icaros is generally much simpler than that used in everyday life by these communities. It is also much more poetic, and regularly uses images, sometimes abstract, to evoke a type of connection, work or energy. Sometimes a Shipibo chant lasts for long minutes in total improvisation, and some shamans have an impressive flow, worthy of the best artists. What’s important in this type of chant is above all its structure: the shamans will first announce the work they’re going to do, then carry it out, and finally bring it to a close.
To give you an example, I would like to share a glimpse of this culture with you, with a rather brief icaro that I have covered on guitar, originally sung by maestro Don Diogenes Garcia (and already adapted by Yuin Huzami in a more instrumentalized version). It was recorded near a river.
VIDEO OF THE NOMA NOMA ICARO:
For a better understanding, here are the lyrics of this icaro, along with their translation. As you can see, the poetic meaning of the words is very present, and uses images such as the shaman putting on symbolic spiritual clothing (like a belt) to prepare for his work in the other world. I really like this icaro, as the practitioner speaks of his desire to constantly perfect his voice and chants, so as to be a flawless channel for the forces that flow through him, and in particular their feminine energy.
Ramakayara, ramakayara,
kanotaanara, ramakayara
nokon bewabo, makeboinra
nokon musica, pishataanara, kepenyontaana,
makexonbanon maton nomakan, noma nomakin
Kanotaanara, kanotaanara,
makeboinra, nokon kanobo
kano kewekan, kewetaanara,
nokon cintabo, cinta paoti
paoyontaana, makebobanon
Makeyontaana, makeyontaana,
nete kewekan, keweyontaana
nokon nomabo, noma ainbo,
nichinyontaana, eara bewai
bewabanonri, ramakayara,
nokon musica makeyontaana
makeyontaana, eara kanoke.
Bewashamankin, bewashamankin,
nokon musica, makeyontaana
makeyontaana, ixonbanonri,
maton nomabo, noma nomabo
ramakayara, ninkakanweri
And here is a translation:
In this actual present moment (x2)
after having connected, in this actual present moment
I perfect my songs as I go
after having released and after having opened fully my songs
I will perfect for your feminine essence, feminizing
After having connected, after having connected
I perfect my connections as I go
the embroidery of my connection, after having been embroidered
my belts, belt
after having put the belts fully, I will perfect as I go
after having perfected fully, after having perfected fully
the embroidery of the universe, after having embroidered fully
my feminine spirits, feminine woman
after having planted them fully upright, I sing
I will sing towards, in this present moment without a doubt
after having perfected fully my music
after having perfected fully, I connected
singing excellently, singing excellently
after having perfected fully my music
after having perfected fully, it will be for
your feminine essences, feminine essences
in this actual present moment, you all listen.
Note: If you are interested in this subject and want to learn more, I recommend the Shipibo online courses on the Koshi Nete website, which are excellent. They originally provided the English translation of this icaro.
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