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Singing the Sonic Substance

Abstract

I would like to express my interest about the use of the voice in Shipibo-Konibo communities, an indigenous group traditionally located near by the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest on the eastern part of Peru. In their communities and based on cultural tradition they have a very unique conception and perception of sound. There, sound is understood as a substance that can be fixed in objects and could be used to cure many diseases. Using a wide vocal range, it is believed that they can communicate with non-human beings1 by singing in a specific and very interesting way; also, a sung sonic manifestation is regarded as the highest and most adequate level of communication.