Ayahuasca–From Dangerous Drug to National Heritage: An Interview with Antonio A. Arantes
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies January 1, 2009 Beatriz Caiuby Labate, Ilana Seltzer Goldstein, Campinas State Univesity 15 citations
Brazilian ayahuasca religious groups sought recognition as part of the nation's immaterial cultural heritage in 2008. Anthropology professor Antonio A. Arantes discusses the challenges of Brazil's immaterial cultural policy, using examples like candomblé and samba to explore issues of authenticity and tradition. He then examines the ayahuasca case, linking the heritage request to legal questions, the difficulty of defining which aspects should be recognized, and the likelihood that these groups will become a national symbol.