THE NAIBAI

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Deep in the Venezuelan heartland there is an indigenous tribe of egalitarian society whose basic cultural element is a daily act linked to shamanism. This dance, situated between two worlds, takes place between a trance state and dialogue. The symbolic efficacy through the body turns this act into a tool for healing illnesses and resolving conflicts for all members of the tribe. I know this because the anthropologist Ángel Acuña was there and told us about it one afternoon in the Lecrín Valley.

Here, in the Valley, there are no shamanic dances, there is mass on Saturdays at 20:00 and Sundays at 12:00. There is a priest and a confessional and a few faithful. There are ‘secrets’ that the faithful go to tell the priest. The priest of Melegís says at the beginning of the 12:00 mass: ‘Confess because the truth will set you free’.

Then the indigenous tribe returns with its shamanic dance. The priest of Melegís dancing and all the faithful dancing their confessions. Imagining what dance it is that blows up the hidden truths and lies. Bringing the Amazon to Restábal appear the Naibai, who are a tribe half priest half shaman who dance the truths.

The Naibai have taught me how to dance.

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What is truth for you? and a lie? do you have any secrets? The Naibai is a
a journey to another culture. A meeting with a tribe that doesn't know what a lie is. A place where the hidden ceases to be hidden and becomes a dance.
Instinct, fluids, grit and guts are the ingredients of this ritual.

Performance in the format of a conference that tells the story of an experience with Los Naibai, with interviews made during the grant and a final dance.

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AL RASO GRANT. GRANADA UNIVERSITY. VALLE DE LECRÍN.

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AL RASO EN PALACIO. EXHIBITION. PALACIO CONDES DE GABIA. GRANADA

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