Tepi - Double Blow Kenê Bamboo
In indigenous culture and myth the physical and spiritual beings of the forest play a central part in their cosmic vision. They are presented in their body pantings and handicrafts. They call them Kenê, and usually are represented by geometric patterns.
This beautiful double barrel Tepi is decorated with designs inspired by these Kenês. They are burned into the bamboo with pyrography. The double barrel Tepi blows both nostrils at the same time, just a single hit and done.
There may be slight variations from batch to batch since this is a hand crafted product.
This model was made by our handicrafts experts at the Tete Pawã arts and medicines studio. They are located in the upper Juruá region of Marechal Thaumaturgo municipality, way up on the Amazon. The only way to get there is a two day boat journey or with a four seater airplane. They have been our close partners since 2014, always delivering state of the art handicrafts and their excellent Kuntanawa Rapés.
Tete Pawã is the Harpy in the Pano indigenous language. It is the biggest bird of prey of the region and considered very sacred to the native peoples of the region. A truly majestic and royal bird. In Huni Kuin myth he is an enchanted being created by Yuxibu, the great spirit.