Kwahu (Eagle) Dancer Kachina
by Cedric Honyumptewa, Hopi
cottonwood root, pigment
17.5" high x 16" wide x 12" deep
Kwahu, or Eagle Dancer, usually appears in a troupe of several dancers, spreading feathered wings and squawking and imitating eagle behavior while the Koyemshi (Mudhead Kachinas) sing to him. The sponsoring kiva—a men’s society that holds its meetings in sacred underground spaces—must fast and abstain from sexual relations for a period before the dance. The Eagle Dance is a prayer for good crops, rain, and plentiful eagle feathers. Because the eagle is considered sacred, its feathers are important in many ceremonies.
Hopi Kachina carver Cedric Honyumptewa was born in Moenkopi, Arizona and now resides in Phoenix. Cedric has been carving for over twenty years and is considered one of the finest carvers making kachinas today. Cedric’s dolls are always very finely detailed and are usually carved from one piece, with the exception of the small feathers coming off the dolls’ head horizontally. Cedric comes from a long line of carvers and is considered a master carver by his peers.
