On Amazonian Magical Darts

Pathogenic projectiles called waawî among the Makushi people of Guyana are ambiguous entities that are both objects and beings. Fabricated by shamans as embodiments of spirit-helpers, these magical darts exist beyond conventional distinctions between nature and culture. Similar pathogenic objects are also used by other-than-human owners and masters, as well as certain stars. The article argues that these Makushi shamanic concepts challenge familiar dualisms such as material/immaterial, body/spirit, and subject/object, offering new insights into debates about animism in Amazonia.

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.