Abstract
The aim of this paper is to discuss what is known in the region of the Upper Rio Negro as ‘sacred name.’ The discussion is based on ethnographic experience with the Yuhupdeh people, taking blessing through naming as a starting point. The ‘sacred name’ is a personal name given after birth, chosen from an ensemble specific to each group and according to a principle of seniority based on order of birth – from the eldest to youngest. At the same time, sacred names are also considered the breath of life (in the yuhup language it is called hãg-wäg) and must be cared for and protected so that they can grow together with people who carry them. Rather than approaching names only as categories of kinship or prerogatives – which determine positions among people through the gradient of seniority – they are approached from the perspective of what they activate, do and associate.
Keywords
Nomination; Person; Upper Rio Negro; Yuhupdeh; Breath of life