Cantos e trocas na construção e transformações da pessoa maxakali

Abstract

The present dissertation aims to understand a series of processes involved in the construction of the Maxakali person. To this, a bibliographical research accomplished prioritizing, particularly, the ethnographies produced over the last two decades. The key elements highlighted in this paper are the relevance of the rituals to construction of the Maxakali person and the songs chanted by and with yãmĩy spirits during rituals these rituals. The achievement of these songs produces the necessary conditions to life. It also ensures, with certain code of conduct face the same spirits, the post-mortem destiny as yãmĩy. The analysis of the transformations in the condition of the maxakali person lead us, by the end of this research, to assert that the central notion of joy – with the confused healthy and cheerful conditions in a unique desire state –, that defines exactly what means to be maxakali. It is in this sense that this dissertation supports the existence of three fundamental aspects of maxakali life: the respect of couvades practices; the presence in the rituals and, consequently, the exchanges made on these occasions; besides the maintenance of mentioned estate of joy. The perpetuation of these aspects defines maxakali condition.