Documentaries
Khoka: The Sacred Plant
This documentary series produced by Khoka Project that explores the profound relationship between South American cultures and the coca plant, an essential element in their daily lives and ceremonial practices. Throughout four episodes, the series delves into the use, cultivation, and symbolism of the various coca varieties: from the ritual practice of hayo in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, through the revered “Royal Leaf” of the Incas, the Mamox Coca that sustains life in the Andes, to mambe, made from the Amazonian coca known as ipadu. Each episode reveals the fundamental role coca has played in the history, worldview, and cultural identity of the peoples who have cultivated and sacralized it for more than 8,000 years.
Thupa Coca
- The Truxillense variety, or “Royal Leaf,” was favored by Inca royalty for its superior taste. Native to the northern coast of Peru, this coca spread across the Pacific coastline and Chaupiyunga, with over 8,000 years of ritual and everyday use. Despite modern prohibitions, Truxillense is still cultivated near Trujillo, being legally exported exclusively by Coca Cola through ENACO.
Mamox Coca
- Mamox Coca, or Andean coca, has been essential for life in the highlands of the Andes, from Peru to Ecuador. With properties that enhance oxygenation and stave off hunger, it was crucial for survival in the Andes. Associated with rituals and trade between coast, highlands, and jungle, this variety is today an integral part of the identity of the Quechua and Aymara peoples.
Hayo
- The Quimbaya poporo, a symbol of Colombian identity, reflects the deep connection between coca and power in pre-Columbian times. This episode explores how coca arrived in Colombia, spreading along the Caribbean coast, and the cultures that adopted it. It also examines its current use in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the impact of Spanish colonization.
Ipadu
- Mambe, a sacred powder made from Ipadu coca and yarumo ashes, is central to the rituals of Amazonian cultures. Mambear not only eases hunger and fatigue but also clears the mind and strengthens communal bonds. Spread through the Amazon’s river systems, mambeo is a vital practice for peoples like the Huitoto, Bora, and Eastern Tukano.