Hushahu Yawanawá

In 2005, Hushahu became the first woman of her people—and of other tribes in the region—to undergo a spiritual study, spending over a year in Samakẽi, an isolated retreat in the rainforest. There, she discovered the world of the Pajés as a woman, bringing a female voice to traditionally masculine songs through her art and voice.

Her return inspired her people, fostering equality between men and women, and reigniting a connection to their traditions.

As a spiritual leader, Hushahu has guided many, and her visionary artwork is embraced by various tribes in Brazil. In May 2024, she entered a deeper spiritual retreat, Runua Xinã, becoming the first person since her father’s passing to do so.

She has since been in isolation, deepening her studies to better serve those who seek her guidance. Known for her strong, gentle presence, Hushahu shares the love and wisdom gained from her life’s journey.

Matsini, the chief and spiritual leader of Mutum Village, comes from a long lineage of Pajés (master shamans) and studied under the great Pajé Tata, who helped revive Yawanawá traditions after missionaries and rubber tappers left their land.

As a Pajé, Matsini shares his teachings with both his tribe and the outside world, hosting non-indigenous seekers in his village year-round. His sisters were the first female Pajés, and many of his children are now following in these traditions. Together, they are powerful musicians and spiritual guides.

Matsini believes we are in a time of great change and brings his prayers and songs to help guide this shift. Through prayer circles and gatherings, he fosters unity, joy, and connection to ancestral wisdom. His village is focused on self-sustainability, with food sovereignty as a key priority, and this journey supports that vision.

Kenewma comes from a long lineage of powerful spiritual leaders and strong women. Her mother, Chief Naiweni Mariazinha, was the first female leader of the Yawanawá people, and her father, Chief Biraci Nixiwaka, is a respected leader of their people and Aldeia Sagrada.

As a dedicated student of her ancestral wisdom, Kenewma was initiated into one of the most profound spiritual studies within her culture—the Muká diet. She made history as the first youth and only the third woman of her people to embark on this sacred path. Deeply committed to the Yawanawá way of knowledge, she carries an innate spiritual force and devotes herself to the well-being of her tribe, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, mother, and father.

Now living in Bahia, Brazil, with her husband, Jordão de Souza, and their children, Muka and newborn Muka Vimi, she is working to build a retreat center and village on the land of Guananshe. An incredibly gifted artist, Kenewma creates hand-painted clothing and prints, and her powerful voice is recognized as a force of spirit and tradition.

Jordão Souza, born in 1993 in Rio de Janeiro, has been deeply connected to the Amazon Rainforest since childhood. As the grandson of Santo Daime leader Padrinho Sebastião Mota de Melo, he was immersed in Amazonian spirituality from an early age.

His journey with the Yawanawá began in 2009, leading him to study their medicinal plant knowledge and spirituality. He was the last student initiated by Pajé Tata, a great healer and teacher. Committed to preserving indigenous wisdom, he co-founded Guananshe Sanctuary in Bahia, Brazil—a research and healing center uniting ancestral plant medicine with global visitors and scientists.

Jordão also supports Yawanawá projects like Nipei: The Garden of Medicines and the Food Sovereignty Project, ensuring the continuation of traditional healing and regenerative food systems. He lives in Bahia with his wife, Kenewma Yawanawá, and their children, Mukaihu and Mukavimi. A gifted musician and artist, he shares his creativity to bridge cultures and honor Amazonian traditions.

Kuru is a powerful and rising young leader from Mutum Village. Having recently completed the year-long Muká initiation, he has deepened his connection to the ancestral healing practices of prayer and medicine. A worldly traveler, he carries his music, spiritual force, and Yawanawá traditions to people across the globe. As the son of Chief Matsini and a devoted student of Hushahu Yawanawá and the wisdom of the ancients, he is dedicated to preserving and sharing his people's sacred knowledge. Above all, he is a father to two children, walking the path of tradition while shaping the future.

Manxyvake is a devoted student of Yawanawá spiritual wisdom. She walks alongside her husband, Matsini Yawanawá—chief and spiritual leader of Mutum Village—participating in ceremonies, sacred diets, and profound spiritual studies. She leads an annual women's gathering, offering a sacred space for connection and transformation, and shares her knowledge through online studies. Through her powerful chants, she helps guide others on their own spiritual journeys.

Yawavãná, raised by Naiwēni who was the first female leader of a Yawanawá village. From a young age she studied with Hushahu & Pajé Tatá before he passed away.

Yawa is currently in retreat by entering into the diet of Muká on the same day Hushahu entered her retreat of Runua Xinã.

Yawa has a powerful voice and is especially talented in her art, painting traditionally in the form of Kenē on the face or body but also on canvas, Very humble in her heart, Yawá brings the feminine strength of her people with great responsibility and love

Hukēna embarked on her spiritual journey at a young age, becoming one of the youngest women of her people to be initiated into the sacred Muká diet—one of the most profound and revered spiritual paths in her tradition. She received this initiation from the hands of the shaman Tatá and her mother, Hushahu, marking the beginning of a lifelong dedication to the study of sacred medicines.

Rooted in the ancestral wisdom of her lineage, Hukēna leads spiritual work throughout Brazil and beyond, sharing her strength, knowledge, and beauty through her voice and teachings. She is an inspiration to many, not only as a spiritual leader but also as a trailblazer for love and equality—becoming the first woman in her tribe to marry another woman. Through her work, she fosters understanding, healing, and inclusion within her community and across the world.

Learning alongside her mother, Hukēna carries a deep reverence for her traditions while embracing the vision of a new generation. Alongside her partner, Nawãma, she stands with courage and humility, bringing forth teachings and songs that touch hearts and uplift spirits wherever she goes.

Dominique Nawãma is deeply connected to spirituality, women's rights, and ancestral traditions. Raised in the Afro-Brazilian Umbanda tradition, she inherited a strong foundation of faith, respect for ancestors, and spiritual practice. Her journey expanded when she met Hukēna, immersing herself in the Yawanawá tradition and falling in love with its sacred songs and spiritual depth.

Blending these two traditions, Nawãma brings a unique presence to her work. Her mission extends beyond spirituality—it is a call for equality, inclusion, and reclaiming feminine power as a force for transformation. As a spiritual leader and co-founder of the Shavorã Movement with Hukēna, she continues to inspire healing, empowerment, and awareness.