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What is a Zemi?When Columbus came to the New World, he encountered the sophisticated society of the Taíno whose culture reached its highest development in Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and eastern Cuba. The Taíno perfected unique methods of agricultural production and political organization, and were excellent mariners whose travels ranged from the northern part of Central America to the Venezuelan Andean region. The Taíno used and revered idols called "zemis" in their public rituals and ceremonies. These statues represented gods and ancestors, and were used by priests (behiques) and chiefs (caciques) to contact spirits for advice and guidance as well as to demonstrate their power. Large "zemis" were considered not only to be inherently powerful objects, but actually to be spirit beings who indulged in human behaviors. We adopted Zemi as our name out of respect for the diverse cultures and rich histories of the American peoples and as a symbol of our commitment to work within and across the whole of the American continent--and beyond. |
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© 2009 Zemi Communications Mexico City • Washington DC |
