in the Andes of Bolivia hardy
descendants of the Inca eke a living
from thin mountain soil at 13,000 feet
life is a constant struggle near the
village of a agua in central Bolivia
farmers break ground with plant potatoes
according to local tradition for the
crop to flourish it needs more than
skilled tilling and good weather the
potatoes these farmers believe need the
nourishment of human blood to guarantee
sufficient food for the coming year
villagers staged a festival called teen
coup that provides the necessary blood
Herman Golani known as campione or
champion is the town’s top fighter soon
he and complete strangers will be
knocking one another cold in the kind of
melee many societies might find
difficult to control in a nearby house
Cedeno charke is also getting ready to
fight he wears a cowhide helmet modeled
on those the conquistadors war 500 years
ago this helmet we used to protect
ourselves saw a heads dunga hunt sabino
expects that even with his armor on
he’ll be wounded during teen coup that’s
the whole point in the contest the
villagers will be fighting to entertain
the spirits of the earth and the
mountain musicians led villagers and
spirits alike know that teen coup has
begun and the procession sets off all
will converge at the town of I Maya for
a battle that pits village against
village and spirit against spirit those
strangers to one another competitors
choose their opponent by location the
teams date to ancient times the one that
triumphs is seen as having the strongest
spirit and therefore is
the best harvest It’s Showtime and
Campione and sabino join the fray the
blood itself is an offering to nourish
the spirits just as water nourishes the
earth boys as young as 10 enter the fray
it’s a free-for-all with few rules and
it can end in death participants claim
that almost every year someone dies
campione as always gives better than he
gets finally the fighting winds down
many duels and with an embrace this is
no place for personal grudges the aim
isn’t to beat someone up but to impress
the spirits after a day of bruising
battles the villagers refer to a bar to
show their scars and tell their stories
campione claims he’s lived up to his
name we fought without resting we fought
many times before I live here I will
fight one more time ok friends let’s
have a toast let’s have a drink for your
Mountain spirit the Battle of teen coup
has given the villagers hope they’ve
done their part delivering the promised
sacrifice now it’s up to the spirits to
perform as requested until then the
villagers can focus on less dangerous
games
you
descendants of the Inca eke a living
from thin mountain soil at 13,000 feet
life is a constant struggle near the
village of a agua in central Bolivia
farmers break ground with plant potatoes
according to local tradition for the
crop to flourish it needs more than
skilled tilling and good weather the
potatoes these farmers believe need the
nourishment of human blood to guarantee
sufficient food for the coming year
villagers staged a festival called teen
coup that provides the necessary blood
Herman Golani known as campione or
champion is the town’s top fighter soon
he and complete strangers will be
knocking one another cold in the kind of
melee many societies might find
difficult to control in a nearby house
Cedeno charke is also getting ready to
fight he wears a cowhide helmet modeled
on those the conquistadors war 500 years
ago this helmet we used to protect
ourselves saw a heads dunga hunt sabino
expects that even with his armor on
he’ll be wounded during teen coup that’s
the whole point in the contest the
villagers will be fighting to entertain
the spirits of the earth and the
mountain musicians led villagers and
spirits alike know that teen coup has
begun and the procession sets off all
will converge at the town of I Maya for
a battle that pits village against
village and spirit against spirit those
strangers to one another competitors
choose their opponent by location the
teams date to ancient times the one that
triumphs is seen as having the strongest
spirit and therefore is
the best harvest It’s Showtime and
Campione and sabino join the fray the
blood itself is an offering to nourish
the spirits just as water nourishes the
earth boys as young as 10 enter the fray
it’s a free-for-all with few rules and
it can end in death participants claim
that almost every year someone dies
campione as always gives better than he
gets finally the fighting winds down
many duels and with an embrace this is
no place for personal grudges the aim
isn’t to beat someone up but to impress
the spirits after a day of bruising
battles the villagers refer to a bar to
show their scars and tell their stories
campione claims he’s lived up to his
name we fought without resting we fought
many times before I live here I will
fight one more time ok friends let’s
have a toast let’s have a drink for your
Mountain spirit the Battle of teen coup
has given the villagers hope they’ve
done their part delivering the promised
sacrifice now it’s up to the spirits to
perform as requested until then the
villagers can focus on less dangerous
games
you
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