Antônio Bakairi as Indigenous Ethnographer, by Erik Petschelies

HAR is pleased to announce one of the latest releases from Encyclopédie Bérose des histoires de l’anthropologie: an article (in English) on a fundamental Indigenous figure in the history of European ethnographic expeditions in late 19^th-century Amazonia.

BEROSE reference: Petschelies, Erik, 2025. “A Portrait of Antônio Bakairi: Indigenous Agency and the Politics of Ethnographic Knowledge in Late‑19th‑Century Amazonia,” Encyclopédie Bérose des histoires de l’anthropologie. https://doi.org/10.70601/1wphhd3.

Antônio Bakairi (dates unknown) was an Indigenous man from the Bakairi people of Central Brazil who exemplifies the often-overlooked role of Indigenous experts in the production of anthropological knowledge. He served as the guide for German ethnologist Karl von den Steinen’s (1855–1929) pioneering expeditions to the Xingu River basin in 1884 and 1887–1888. He also worked as von den Steinen’s translator and principal “informant,” playing a crucial role in von den Steinen’s ethnographic and linguistic research. After participating in subsequent expeditions led by Herrmann Meyer (1871–1932) in Central Brazil, Antônio Bakairi became politically influential across the vast region of the state of Mato Grosso. By focusing on the most important guide of the “German-speaking” ethnographic period in Brazil, particularly between the late 19th century and World War II, Petschelies situates the narrative within both the history of anthropology and the history of Indigenous peoples. The aim of the article is to reevaluate the role of Indigenous experts in shaping anthropological knowledge. Antônio emerges as a central figure in the narrative of Americanist expeditions to the Xingu region, exemplifying the profound impact of these encounters on Indigenous societies. Over nearly three decades, Antônio transitioned from a marginalized young man to a pivotal leader and intermediary, demonstrating remarkable adaptability and influence. His collaboration with German ethnographers not only transformed his own life but also played a fundamental role in shaping the social dynamics of his people, the Bakairi of Central Brazil.