On Amazonian Magical Darts

Summary

The article explores the concept of pathogenic projectiles, or waawî, among the Makushi people in Guyana, highlighting their dual nature as both entities and objects. These magical darts, created by shamans, embody spirit-helpers and challenge traditional distinctions between nature and culture. The study also notes similar beliefs in other pathogenic objects linked to non-human owners and celestial bodies. Ultimately, it provides insights into Amazonian cosmologies and animism, questioning established dualisms.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article examines pathogenic projectiles among the Makushi people in Guyana. Based on ethnographic fieldwork among Makushi in North Rupununi, the ‘magical’ darts known as waawî are described and contrasted with accounts of similar phenomena across Amazonia. For the Makushi, waawî seem to hold an ambiguous existence as both entities and objects. As embodiments of spirit-helpers, these pathogenic darts are fabricated by shamans yet maintain a paradoxical existence that goes beyond notions of nature and culture. Makushi people also give somewhat similar accounts of different kinds of pathogenic objects that are used by other-than-human owners and masters, as well as certain stars. The article concludes with general comments about the character of spirit-darts in Amazonian cosmologies, engaging theory from animism and perspectivism. We argue that these Makushi shamanic concepts shed new light on debates around animism in Amazonia, drawing into question familiar dualisms between the material/immaterial, body/spirit, and subject/object.

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