Anthropology Guardians of the Flutes: The Secrets of Male Initiation Best Seller Produced by Paul Reddish for BBC Television, Gilbert Herdt
High in the mountains of New Guinea live the Sambia people, a warlike tribe whose secret rituals of initiation are designed to make their warriors courageous and bold. In this society, the roles of men and women are sharply delineated. They live in separate spaces in round huts. A woman must crouch if she is in the same space as her husband. Her menstrual blood is considered a pollutant, damaging to her husband’s vigor. Male children live with their mothers until they are old enough to move to the boys’ house and for many, the separation from their mother is a painful one. When it is time for the boys to become men, they undergo a severe initiation. Each is assigned an older guardian who accompanies him during the process. They are thrashed, deprived of food and sleep, and have ginger root rubbed into their wounds, a painful experience. The initiates share these experiences and details about the most secret part of the initiation, the sexual rites. Guardians of the Flutes is a fascinating look at a society shaped by the ritualized distinction between male and female roles. 55 min. DVD: $395. Three-year streaming: $199. 978-1-4631-0400-9. For mature audiences.
The King Does Not Lie: The Initiation of a Shango Priest Produced by Judith Gleason and Elisa Mereghetti
The King Does Not Lie chronicles Santeria, the Afro-Cuban religion whose New World practitioners have often been maligned and harassed by authorities. In this intimate documentary, a contemporary Puerto Rican community of santeros gathers for the initiation of a priest of Shango, the “Thundergod” of the traditional Yoruba religion. As audiences follow the initiate through a series of ritual events, a new perspective on ancient rites is revealed. The religion originated in Africa and the chants are sung in Yoruba. Such rituals form the basis of ceremonies performed in churches and temples of established religions; sacred stones washed in sacred, leafy waters become the energy for ritual purification and empowerment. The anointment of head, feet, and stones with the blood of sacrifice ensures atonement. On the third day, the community gathers to witness the divination session in which the initiate receives his new name and, along with it, the transfer of allegiance from an outer, worldly to an inner, spiritual authority. A combination of ritual narration with poetic translation from Lucumi and Yoruba chants provides viewers with an understanding of the literal and figurative dimensions of the ceremony. “The King Does Not Lie presents the earthy elements of a folk religion with dignity and integrity.” –Pastor Robert A. Wolfe, Order of Carmelites 50 min. DVD: $395. Three-year streaming: $199. 978-1-4631-0533-4
Languages Lost and Found: Speaking and Whistling the Mamma Tongue New A film by Iris Brooks and Jon H. Davis, narrated by William Hurt, music by John McDowell
This richly illustrated short film celebrates diverse linguistic and cultural practices from around the world. In footage spanning five continents—from rainforest longhouses in Borneo to dramatic mountaintops in the Canary Islands—dynamic visions of art, music, and dance are woven into a vivid global mosaic. Languages Lost and Found highlights the extent to which the ways we think, speak, and express our ideas are all a reflection of our language. The film reminds viewers about how quickly some languages are disappearing and advocates for the native tongue as an all-important vehicle for maintaining culture, sharing traditional wisdom, and envisioning the future.
“Tells the story of linguistic diversity and language endangerment. Whether in Palauan, Inuktitut, Kichwa or the birdlike whistles of Silbo Gomero, the melody of this cultural collage is soul-piercing: if we lose our mother tongue, we may lose the essence of who we are.” –Juliette Blevins, Director, Endangered Language Initiative, CUNY Graduate Center “The film Languages Lost and Found is really quite stunning and inspiring.” –Suzanne Bilello, Senior Public Information and Liaison Officer, UNESCO, New York
“This short and evocative film makes the case for the uniqueness and importance of each human language.” –Jack David Eller, Anthropology Review Database 30 min. DVD: $250. Three-year streaming: $199. 978-1-4631-1272-1
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