the elder brother

From the beginning in Colombia everything, everything remained as it was among us, the native people; the same belief, the same mask, the same dance. Everything well organised, in order, a terrace for every animal.

'Younger brother was permitted in other places, other countries. There was a dividing line, the sea. He said, 'Younger Brother that side, Elder Brother this side. You cannot cross it.' Because this Colombia was the heart of The world, Of the whole universe.

'But Younger Brother came from another country and immediately saw gold and immediately began to rob. There were golden images, golden oracles. The Mama prophesied with golden Bowls, he had a golden tuma, he had everything and Younger Brother took it all to another country.

'Now the Mama grows sad, he feels weak. He says that the earth is decaying. The earth is losing its strength. Because they have taken away much petrol, coal, many minerals.

'A human being has much liquid inside. If the liquid dries up we fall with weakness. This same thing can happen to the Earth. Weakness makes you fall, weakness.

'So the earth catches diseases of all kinds. The animals die. The trees dry up. People fall ill. Many illnesses will appear and there will be no cure for them. Why?

'Because the Younger Brother is among us, Younger Brother is violating the basic foundation of the world's law. A total violation. Robbing. Ransacking. Building highways, extracting petrol, minerals.

'We tell you, We the people of this place, Kogi, Asario, Arhuaco: that is the violation. So the Mamas say, please BBC, no one else should come here, no more ransacking because the earth wants to collapse, the earth grows weak, we must protect it, we must respect it, because he does not respect the earth, because he does not respect it.'

'Younger Brother thinks,'Yes! Here I am! I know much about the universe!' But this knowing is learning to destroy the world, to destroy everything, all humanity.

'The earth feels, they take out petrol, it feels pain there. So the earth sends out sickness. There will be many medicines, drugs, but in the end the drugs will not be of any use.

'The Mamas say that this tale must be learnt by the Younger Brother.'


from the documentary From the Heart of the World - The Elder Brother's Warning, by Alan Ereira (director), 1991 , BBC

Photo: Children from the Kogi Tribe that live in the Nevado de Santa Marta, Colombia © Oshry Chageg

If you'd like to learn more about this video, please refer to:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/from_the_heart_of_the_world_the_elder_brothers_warning/

If you'd like to learn more about the Kogi tribe, please refer to:
http://www.sharibillger.com/kogi.shtml
http://faculty.ehshouston.org/spoteet/Indigenous%20Files%20Fall%202004/kogi%20people/indigeneous%20people/pygmy.htm