Chamans of Lima City

Lima, Perú — “You gonna take the pictures now?” asked the shaman. “Wait, I’ll put my stuff on” he said, and disappeared for a while into the next room. The same scene repeated itself with other shamans and witches. If there is one thing the supernatural intermediaries of Lima have in common, it’s their meticulous care for image, including a peculiar, crowded aesthetic. More than just a marketing strategy, their image has become a fundamental component of their magic. The shaman (or medicine person, or witch) comes out fully dressed up. If you look at them close enough, you’ll never find two shamans that look exactly alike.