kuyekuyeju

Wauja

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kuˌjɛ.kuˈjɛ.ʂu/

Noun

kuyekuyeju

1. Dusky parrot, Pionus fuscus.

   Irixulakume eu whun, a-MU-naun wiu. A-MU-naun whun... Itsa kala onu katiwhun... Etsunajatawinejo yiu. Iyawi uleitaku wi, ah kaliwhun, Irixulakume. Iyawi uleitaku wi. Iyawi uleitaku wi. Onai hiya we, onai hiya we. Onumanaitsa eejowehene yiu. Eejo-TA amunaun. Tueneu, salaleneu amakua. Sukuti wasityuene okupwi eu — Tum! — iyene okupwi eu. Eh, onai ha pai nananaun. Eh, onai ahojokajotakonehene amunaun. Au ha wi... Kuyekuyejukuma —

   Sityapawonejo?

   Sityapawonejo. Kaw! — Salaleneu inama ha. Eh, onai ... Ah, eejotai Kuyekuyejukuma... Itsenu pata munti-TI-hene ti kata kaliwhun, Kuyekuyeju, Kuyekuyejuneju wi whun. Munto—

   Eejo ou wiu?

   Eejo ou wiu.

   [Storyteller:] Irixulakuma (Blue Cotinga Bird) was indeed a chief, [he] was. [The] chief of [his] village. [He had] this many wives [indicates four]. So [one day] he went wandering. He went to his manioc gardens, that one did, Blue Cotinga Bird did. He went to his manioc gardens, he went to his manioc gardens. [He walked some distance to his gardens.] He took his time there, rubbing charcoal on his body [to make himself handsome]. [At last the] chief was nothing but charcoal [covered with charcoal]. [He] returned [home] and reclined in his hammock. [His wife,] Sukuti (Parakeet Woman), jumped eagerly into the hammock beside him — Tum! — [went the hammock strings as] she climbed in beside him. Those two remained there for some time. [The] chief rolled in the hammock with her; they tickled and teased and fondled each other. When they were finished, Parakeet woman got up, and Kuyekuyejukuma (Dusky Parrot Woman) —

   [Listener:] Took her turn?

   [Storyteller:] She took her turn with him. Kau! [the hammock creaked as the other wife entered the hammock]. They took their time together. At last, Dusky Parrot Woman was nothing but charcoal [she was covered was covered with charcoal from her husband's body]. As a result, all dusky and grey was the body of Kuyekuyeju, of that Dusky Parrot Woman. [Her skin was] dusky –

   [Listener:] From the charcoal?

   [Storyteller:] From the charcoal.

Usage notes

• When adorning themselves, Wauja men rub charcoal (often mixed with piqui oil) on their bodies (maka awojotipa, "in order to be handsome"). Contrasting designs in red can be painted on the glistening charcoal base.
• In this excerpt from the story, the narrator is explaining how the Dusky Parrot (Pionus fuscus) got its dark, muted plumage, unusual for a parrot. In fact, this species does look as if its feathers have been rubbed lightly with soot or charcoal.
• In the excerpt, the narrator uses several variants on the name of this bird: Kuyekuyeju (the name the Wauja use to refer to the species); Kuyekuyejukuma (adding the suffix –kuma to signify a spirit or unnatural being); Kuyekuyejuneju (adding the suffix –neju to signify a woman).

Derived terms

• eejopai (“is a sooty or charcoal color”)

See also

• arimajutu (“charcoal”)

References

• "Okahopai eejo" from E. Ireland field notes. Needs to be checked by native speaker.
• "Irixulakume eu" (transcript pp. 5-8) uttered by Aruta, elder and storyteller, while recounting story of the "Caiman Spirit and the Origin of Piqui," (Yakaojokuma), November 1989. Recorded in BBC film, "The Storyteller."