Godparenthood Among the Ka'apor: Rituals of Naming, Healing, and Vitality
Gustavo de Godoy E Silva, André Sanches de Abreu
Kinship June 22, 2026 DOI: 10.5070/k7.66326 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Ethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | The Ka'apor people |
| Key findings | Argues that godparenthood and sponsorship are central to Ka'apor sociology, organizing both the naming ceremony, which identifies people and protects children's health, and shamanism, where a shaman's assistant godchildren ("auxiliary spirits") help diagnose disease origins and seek cures. Contends that ritual godparenthood and post-natal confinement act similarly and both require attention to the moral value pɪhu-katu-ha, indicating conduct based on respect, care, cooperation, confinement, and civility. |
Abstract
Godparenthood and sponsorship are essential to Ka'apor sociology. They are present in two of the main rituals of Ka'apor: the naming ceremony and shamanism. The naming ceremony, included in the ritual beer drinking, is vital for identifying people and ensuring the health of children. In shamanism, the encounter between the shaman and his assistant godchildren, the "auxiliary spirits," is essential for restoring the health of an ill person. We describe and analyze how godparenthood establishes naming and shamanhood. Godparenthood and sponsorship are both sustained and created for the main institutional ceremony of the Ka'apor, which ensures health after confinement. Meanwhile, shamanry, a revitalizing rite, is the in-between moment when spiritual godchildren are attracted to provide information to the shaman godfather about the origin of diseases and assist him in the search for a cure. The comparison between ritual godparenthood and post-natal confinement shows that both act similarly. Godparenthood and sponsorship require attention to a generic moral value, pɪhu-katu-ha, which indicates conduct based on respect, care, cooperation, confinement, and civility. This analysis is based on audiovisual recordings that make up our documentary collection hosted by the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR).