Yawanawá Saiti Class Music Workshop

We are honored to welcome Kuru, Kenetsayny and Angelica Yawanawá to Santa Cruz Yoga on Wednesday, October 14th for an intimate, experiential music workshop sharing songs, rhythms, stories and teachings from their culture and lineage.

Saiti is an important expression of Yawanawá culture - music that carries prayer, connection, celebration and the living memory of their people. Through voice, rhythm and collective singing, these songs have been carried through generations.

During this workshop, you'll have the opportunity to learn directly from our Yawanawá teachers, exploring the pronunciation, melodies, & rhythms behind selected traditional songs. More than simply learning music, this is an invitation to experience the songs in community and deepen our understanding of the culture from which they come.

No musical exprience is necessary. Whether you've experienced the musical force of the Yawanawá or simply feel called to join, all are welcome! Learning these sacred songs bring vocal empowerment and activation through ancient language that invokes prayer and healing into your life.

Open Heart

Your Voice

Water Bottle

Journal & Pen/Pencil

Guitar (if you play)

Camping Chair (if you prefer not to sit on the floor or bolster)

🌍 Community • Heritage

We are so excited to host Matsini's children Kuru, Kenetsayny & Angelica Yawanawá for an unforgettable night of sacred music, indigenous art, visionary plant education, and Amazonian culture.

This remarkable evening will transcend geographical borders and immerse you in the vibrant spirit of the Brazilian Amazon. Let's gather in community to support and celebrate the Yawanawá people, welcoming in leaders of an indigenous community from the heart of the Brazilian jungle. This is a special and unique opportunity to learn directly from the tribe about their wisdom and traditions.

🎶 Saiti Class

The Saitis are everything to the Yawanawá people. Through sound, they heal themselves and transmit healing to others, as song is the pure expression of joy, a living force that resonates with the soul of their people. Traditionally, it is through Saitis that they connect with their ancestors, keeping alive the memory of who they are and honoring the lineage from which they've come. The Saitis are pathways that open, guiding us on spiritual and healing journeys.

These songs, full of power and wisdom, are carefully and deeply transmitted during the Yawanawá's periods of dieta, where teachings and connection with the spirits are intensified. It is a sacred process, where knowledge is absorbed, respected, and passed on, preserving the tradition and the essence of healing through sound.

Join us for a special Saiti Class with the Yawanawá people, where you'll experience the transformative power of their sacred chants. Through these ancient melodies, they maintain a deep bond with their ancestors.

In this class, you will learn traditional songs passed down through generations, carefully transmitted. They will be teaching both acapella vocal chants as well as Saitis with guitar accompaniment.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich tradition of Yawanawa songs, discovering the deep healing power of sound. We invite you to join this journey of learning, healing and connection.

🎤 Educational talk

You will expand your understanding of the Yawanawá people, an indigenous community from the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This talk will provide valuable insights into their traditions, sacred visionary plant medicines, and the challenges the community faces in preserving their rich cultural heritage. Learn about the rituals and ceremonies that surround sacred medicines in the Yawanawá culture.

🎸Live Music Concert

Let the rhythms and prayers of the rainforest enchant your soul as we present an extraordinary lineup of musicians, each bringing a piece of the Amazon to Santa Cruz. Experience the traditional sounds of the Yawanawá, in a concert that promises to transport you to the heart of the jungle.

🎨 Indigenous Art Market

Explore a curated art market featuring exquisite creations from indigenous artists and artisans. Explore sacred channeled designs and ancient art from the jungle. You can support these talented artists while taking home a piece of the Amazon's rich cultural heritage by acquiring jewelry, hapé and handcrafted exquisite pieces. Please bring cash.

🎙️ Q&A Session

Ask your burning questions and engage in an interactive dialogue with our teachers. Gain a deep understanding of the spiritual ancient wisdom of this community.

⭐ Supporting Indigenous Communities

By attending this event, you're not only immersing yourself in an evening of cultural expansion, but also actively contributing to the well-being and empowerment of the Yawanawá Tribe, honoring reciprocity of indigenous peoples. A significant portion of the proceeds will be directed towards the preservation of indigenous culture in the Brazilian rainforest.

Experience the magic of the Amazon right here in the bay area, where we come together as a community to celebrate the force and vitality of the forest and its indigenous guardians. Let's stand together in solidarity, recognizing the importance of preserving these vital cultures and their natural habitats. Together, we can make a difference and support these indigenous communities as they share their traditions and wisdom with the world.

**Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot now and be part of this incredible celebration of indigenous culture!**

About the Yawanawá :

The Yawanawá people live along the banks of the Gregorio River, in the Brazilian state of Acre. They are the guardians of some 200,000 hectares of Amazonian rainforest, of which about 95% is kept intact. In the most biodiverse biome on the planet, their ancestors developed a vast knowledge of the healing plants of the forest and a cosmovision of great spiritual wisdom.

The Yawanawá's first contact with the non-indigenous world happened a little over a hundred years ago. The initial conflicts reduced the Yawanawa family to less than 100 people. For decades they endured the presence of the rubber industry and the missionaries who invaded their lands and tried to forbid Yawanawá language, culture and spirituality. In the 1980s, their fight for the recognition of their ancestral territory led the Yawanawá to become the first indigenous people to obtain the official rights to their lands in the state of Acre.

Under the guidance and teachings of Pajés Tata and Yawa, the last living elders and medicine men of their people, the Yawanawa have been on a profound journey of cultural and spiritual revival. Their sacred rituals, prayers, songs and art are now celebrated all year round. In the last 20 years, the Yawanawa leaders have been dedicated to developing a model of sustainability that allows them to engage with the outside world on their own terms, without compromising their cultural and spiritual identity. Nowadays, the Yawanawá population is estimated at over 1000 people, 80% of which are children and youth. The new generations carry their identity with pride and are committed to the continuation of the legacy of their ancestors.

In the last decade the Yawanawá youth introduced instruments such as guitars, flutes and drums into their traditional ceremonies and prayers, and an exceptional musical culture has been rising from deep in the Amazon rainforest. Combined with their powerful voices, Yawanawá music is now known around the world and the new generation of Yawanawá leaders travel the world to share the message of the forest through their ancestral prayers and phenomenal music.

Event venue & nearby stays

Santa Cruz Yoga, 402 Ingalls Street, Santa Cruz, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag