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The indigenous group Ikara comes from the kichwa community of Sarayacu . Sarayacu is located in the province of Pastaza in the Ecuadorian Amazon region. The community lies on the banks of the Bobonaza river. To get there requires a 30 minute flight from the city of Puyo followed by two days of fluvial navigation.

The town has approximately one thousand inhabitants. It belongs to the Organization of Indigenous Towns of Pastaza, OPIP. The name Sarayacu means “river of corn” in english.

"Our community maintains our culture, language, dreams, music, beliefs, dances, rites, crafts, and our own way life that has been transmitted in oral form from past generations. At the present time, however, our culture is in danger of disappearing by the infiltration of foreign cultures," says one of the members of the band Ikara.

What does Ikara mean?
"The Ikara name, was taken from the language used by shamans of our community. It means the transmission of the spiritual power of all beings of the jungle and is represented by an arrow covered by a cloud that serves as a shield.

"We have managed to assimilate the sacred songs used in the ceremonies, rites, healing sessions of the Shaman and put them into our music.

"These are songs that mother nature herself, has taught and transmitted to her children through dreams, birds, animals."

What are your objectives?
"We aim to transmit our culture to other communities, to exchange experiences, get to know other cultures and forms of life.
We hope to motivate young people, so that they value their cultures and identity and develop creativity, abilities, techniques to be able to grow as a person.

"The type of music that we make is called 'taki shamánico', which delivers messages of life, peace and love of nature."

Why “Yashingu Taki”?
"Yashingu means 'jungle being' that can only be seeing by the great “yachacs” through their ceremonies. “Yashingu taki” or the music of yashingu is the message delivered by this being for all of us indicating that we must take good care of mother nature and that we do not let ourselves be deceived by anybody."