The ultimate test of bravery and strength for the Sateré-Mawé boys can’t be surpassed by anything but a live encounter with hundreds of bullet ants. Older people of the tribe collect bullet ants from the Amazon forest to make ant-ridden gloves. They sedate the ants and weave them into the leaf glove. As the ants become conscious, boys as young as 12 years old place their hands inside it for about full 10 minutes.
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Dances and songs are performed for distraction while the bullet ants- the insect with the most painful sting- bite their skin. The motto behind this tradition is that a life lived without suffering or effort isn’t worth anything. The Mawé people consider strength and courage as the main quality required to protect the tribe from danger and provide for them. Since the valor of Mawé warriors and hunters are highly venerated, young boys usually aim to become a warrior. However, they must place their hands inside the glove for the designated time without shedding a tear to get the position of the tribal warrior.
