El yajé, el purgatorio y la farándula
Antípoda Revista de Antropología y Arqueología – January 01, 2008
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Urban consumption of Ayahuasca, an indigenous vine, has surged among Colombia's middle class, particularly college students and professionals. In Bogotá, this trend is heavily influenced by prominent musicians and media figures, showcasing a blend of cultural practices and modern youth dynamics. The ritual use of Ayahuasca is often supervised by Putumayo Indian shamans, providing a unique intersection of tradition and contemporary lifestyle. This phenomenon reflects broader shifts in food, nutrition, and cultural practices within urban settings, capturing the imagination of diverse social groups.
Abstract
In recent years, urban consumption of the Indian vine Ayahuasca or Yaje has become quite popular in Colombia amongst a population of urban middleclass people –college students, professional, houseviwes, clerical, whitecollar people, artists, and people of the cultural establishment–. To a great extent, the rise of urban yaje, quite visible in the media, magazines and periodicals for the general public, is the work of prominent musicians and TV people. This essay intends to give an account of the process, and to explain the reasons behind its “ritual” use in a city such as Bogota, under the supervision of Putumayo Indian shamans or “taitas”.