Les nouveaux yajeceros urbains Une approche de la consommation rituelle du yajé en Colombie

Abstract

For several years, many Columbian cities have witnessed a rise of ritual practices linked to the ingestion of ayahuasca or yajé. The traditional use of this psychoactive substance is related to shamanic healing and initiation, as performed by the indigenous and mixed-blood peasants of the Amazonian foothills. Today, these practices also concern middle and high class individuals, motivated by therapeutic and spiritual motives predominantly. Presented under the label of « traditional medicine », the ritual intake of yajé is promoted as a legitimate and legal practice. A new class of experts (the new taitas yajeceros) articulate the traditional indigenous uses of this psychoactive substance and the expectations of an urban audience. This article explores some new places of yajés consumption in Columbia and discusses some of their particularities through the case study of a new taita yajecero and of his foundation.