Peruvian Women Heal Themselves with Song, Art
2024-12-07
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1The 36-year-old Peruvian artist Sadith Silvano makes creations born of ancient songs.
2Brush in hand, eyes on the cloth, the Peruvian woman paints as she sings.
3And through her voice, her ancestors speak.
4"When we paint, we listen to the inspiration that comes from the music and connect to nature, to our elders," said Silvano.
5The artist now lives and works in Lima, Peru, where she moved 20 years ago from Paoyhan.
6It is a Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous community located in the Amazon.
7"These pieces are sacred," she added.
8"We bless our work with the energy of our songs."
9Official data says close to 33,000 Shipibo-Konibo people live in Peru.
10They are believed to come from the surroundings of the Uyacali river.
11Many moved to urban areas like Cantagallo, the Lima neighborhood where Silvano lives.
12Hand-painted textiles like the ones she makes have slowly gained recognition.
13Known as "kené," these works were declared part of the "Cultural Heritage of the Nation" by the Peruvian government in 2008.
14Each kené is special, Shipibo craftswomen say.
15Every design speaks of a woman's community, her worldview and beliefs.
16"Every design tells a story," Silvano said while dressed in traditional clothing.
17"It is a way in which a Shipibo woman distinguishes herself."
18Paoyhan, where Silvano was born, is far from Lima.
19To get there requires an airplane flight and a 12-hour boat trip.
20In her hometown, locals rarely speak languages other than Shipibo.
21Doors and windows there have no locks.
22Adela Sampayo, a 48-year-old healer who was born not too far from Paoyhan, moved to Cantagallo in 2000.
23But she says that all her skills come from the Amazon River area.
24"Since I was a little girl, my mom treated me with traditional medicine," said Sampayo.
25"She gave me plants to become stronger, to avoid getting sick, to be courageous," she added.
26"That's how the energy of the plants started growing inside me."
27Sampayo, too, communicates her worldview through her textiles.
28Though she does not paint, she embroiders, and each thread tells a tale from home.
29"Each plant has a spirit," said the healer, pointing to the leaves embroidered in the cloth.
30"And medicinal plants come from God."
31The plants painted by Silvano also bear meaning.
32One of them represents pure love.
33Another represents a wise man.
34And another, a serpent.
35"The anaconda is special for us," Silvano said.
36"It's our protector, like a god that cares for us and provides food and water."
37In ancient times, she said, her people believed that the sun was their father, and the anacondas were their guardians.
38Colonization brought Catholicism and their worldview changed.
39"Nowadays we have different religions...but we respect our other beliefs too," Silvano said.
40For many years, after her father took her to Lima hoping for a better future, she thought of her time in the jungle.
41Life in Paoyhan was not easy, but she learned to be strong at a young age.
42"When we encounter difficult times, we overcome them with our therapy: designing, painting, singing," Silvano said.
43"We have a song that is melodic and heals our soul, and another one that is inspiring and brings us joy."
44Few Shipibo girls are told to study or make a living of their own, Silvano said.
45Instead, they are taught to wait for a husband.
46And once married, they are taught to deal with problems, difficulties, or bad treatment.
47"Even though we suffer, people tell us: Take it, he's the father of your children.
48Take it, he is your husband," Silvano said.
49"But deep inside, we are wounded. So what do we do? We sing."
50The lesson is taught by mothers to daughters: If you are hurt at home, grab your cloth, your brush and leave.
51Go far away, alone, and sit. Connect with your kené and paint. And while you paint, sing.
52"That's our healing," Silvano said.
53"Through our songs, our kenés, we are free."
54I'm John Russell.
1The 36-year-old Peruvian artist Sadith Silvano makes creations born of ancient songs. 2Brush in hand, eyes on the cloth, the Peruvian woman paints as she sings. And through her voice, her ancestors speak. 3"When we paint, we listen to the inspiration that comes from the music and connect to nature, to our elders," said Silvano. 4The artist now lives and works in Lima, Peru, where she moved 20 years ago from Paoyhan. It is a Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous community located in the Amazon. 5"These pieces are sacred," she added. "We bless our work with the energy of our songs." 6Official data says close to 33,000 Shipibo-Konibo people live in Peru. They are believed to come from the surroundings of the Uyacali river. Many moved to urban areas like Cantagallo, the Lima neighborhood where Silvano lives. 7Hand-painted textiles like the ones she makes have slowly gained recognition. Known as "kené," these works were declared part of the "Cultural Heritage of the Nation" by the Peruvian government in 2008. 8Each kené is special, Shipibo craftswomen say. Every design speaks of a woman's community, her worldview and beliefs. 9"Every design tells a story," Silvano said while dressed in traditional clothing. "It is a way in which a Shipibo woman distinguishes herself." 10Paoyhan, where Silvano was born, is far from Lima. To get there requires an airplane flight and a 12-hour boat trip. 11In her hometown, locals rarely speak languages other than Shipibo. Doors and windows there have no locks. 12Adela Sampayo, a 48-year-old healer who was born not too far from Paoyhan, moved to Cantagallo in 2000. 13But she says that all her skills come from the Amazon River area. 14"Since I was a little girl, my mom treated me with traditional medicine," said Sampayo. "She gave me plants to become stronger, to avoid getting sick, to be courageous," she added. "That's how the energy of the plants started growing inside me." 15Sampayo, too, communicates her worldview through her textiles. Though she does not paint, she embroiders, and each thread tells a tale from home. 16"Each plant has a spirit," said the healer, pointing to the leaves embroidered in the cloth. "And medicinal plants come from God." 17The plants painted by Silvano also bear meaning. One of them represents pure love. Another represents a wise man. And another, a serpent. 18"The anaconda is special for us," Silvano said. "It's our protector, like a god that cares for us and provides food and water." 19In ancient times, she said, her people believed that the sun was their father, and the anacondas were their guardians. Colonization brought Catholicism and their worldview changed. 20"Nowadays we have different religions...but we respect our other beliefs too," Silvano said. 21For many years, after her father took her to Lima hoping for a better future, she thought of her time in the jungle. Life in Paoyhan was not easy, but she learned to be strong at a young age. 22"When we encounter difficult times, we overcome them with our therapy: designing, painting, singing," Silvano said. "We have a song that is melodic and heals our soul, and another one that is inspiring and brings us joy." 23Few Shipibo girls are told to study or make a living of their own, Silvano said. Instead, they are taught to wait for a husband. And once married, they are taught to deal with problems, difficulties, or bad treatment. 24"Even though we suffer, people tell us: Take it, he's the father of your children. Take it, he is your husband," Silvano said. "But deep inside, we are wounded. So what do we do? We sing." 25The lesson is taught by mothers to daughters: If you are hurt at home, grab your cloth, your brush and leave. Go far away, alone, and sit. Connect with your kené and paint. And while you paint, sing. 26"That's our healing," Silvano said. "Through our songs, our kenés, we are free." 27I'm John Russell. 28Maria Teresa Hernandez reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 29______________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31brush - n. a device with bristles typically set into a handle and used especially for painting 32inspiration - n. a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation 33sacred - adj. of or relating to religion, worthy of respect 34courageous -adj. showing the ability to do difficult things 35textile - n. a woven or knit cloth 36craftswoman -n. a woman who is skilled in a craft 37distinguish - v. to mark as separate or different 38embroider - v. to decorate with needlework 39anaconda - n. a large kind of constricting snake