Wacay, mujeres del tabacal

Overview

According to an ancient myth, there was a woman who, by violating the prohibition against leaving her house during menstruation, became a cannibalistic woman, an evil spirit. Amid the fear and outcry of the men, the woman was murdered and burned. But soon after, from the ashes of her pubic hair, the tobacco plant sprang forth. Today, the women of the tobacco fields are experiencing a resurgence in collective work that intertwines with personal aspirations. Five women tell us in their own words how they learned the trade from childhood. As they work, the women of the tobacco fields share their lives and their silenced childhoods. They share stories and veiled traditions.