In a world filled with diverse and sometimes puzzling cultures, the Yanomami tribe of South America stands out for its unique and ancient funeral ritual known as endocannibalism. Found in parts of Venezuela and Brazil, the Yanomami, also called Yanam or Senema, maintain a way of life largely untouched by modernization or Western influences.
Endocannibalism involves the ritualistic consumption of a deceased tribe member’s remains by relatives, under the belief that this act is essential for the soul’s peaceful transition to the afterlife. Unlike traditional burial, the Yanomami burn the body, mix the ashes with powdered bones, and blend them with bananas to prepare a banana soup, which is then consumed by the family and community.
As part of the mourning process, tribe members paint their faces with ash from the burnt body, while singing and crying to express their grief.
The practice also takes on a more vengeful form when a tribe member is killed by an enemy. In such cases, only the women consume the remains, and the act is often followed by a retaliatory raid against the perpetrators’ village on the same night.
Despite being seen as controversial by outsiders, the Yanomami believe that without completing this sacred ritual, the soul of the dead cannot find eternal peace.
(Source: Westnews247).
