Bruce Parry is back on our screens, diving deep into indigenous cultures in the return of Tribe. But one of his latest trips led to brutal consequences as he’ll be seen vomiting on TV.
The show, which originally aired from 2005 to 2007, sees the former Royal Marine-turned-adventurer reconnect with remote communities across the globe.
Since we last saw him, Bruce Parry, now 55, has been busy with projects like Arctic with Bruce Parry and his independent film Tawai: A Voice from the Forest. However, it’s been nearly ten years since he graced our televisions.
In the latest series of Tribe, due on BBC2 on March 30, Bruce ventures to Colombia, Angola, and Indonesia, immersing himself fully in the lives of three indigenous tribes.
He doesn’t just observe; he lives as they do, even if that means sleeping in cow dung. “I don’t want to be a guest,” he insists, “I want to be like a family member.”
Despite his extensive experience, Bruce still finds Ayahuasca daunting. “It’s nerve-wracking and terrifying,” he admits. “You never know what it’s going to reveal.”
In one episode set in the Colombian Amazon, Bruce joins the Waimaha people, who use Ayahuasca to connect with the forest and seek wisdom from spirits.
Despite their tragic history with rubber tappers and missionaries, which nearly destroyed their culture, they open up to Bruce, allowing him to participate in their sacred ritual.
The hallucinogenic experience was intense for Bruce Parry, who ended up violently sick by a river. He shared, “I lost my awareness and was unsteady,” but still felt it was an honour to participate, saying, “But despite that, it was a privilege to be part of it. I suddenly felt like I belonged.”
BBC’s strict safety measures were in place during the filming. Bruce noted, “I’ve drunk Ayahuasca many times without a doctor,” but added, “But because it’s the BBC, there was a health and safety person.”
In the upcoming episodes of Tribe, viewers will see Bruce Parry immerse himself in the culture of the Mucubal people in Angola’s Namib Desert, a community rebuilding after civil conflict.
Bruce faced a daunting challenge as he had to kill a goat with his bare hands, respecting local tradition that views using a weapon as disrespectful. He confessed, “I really didn’t want to do this,” acknowledging the cultural expectations.
During the ritual, Bruce struggled, realising, “I realised I was prolonging the process because I wasn’t concentrating,” and knew he had to honour everyone involved.
One particularly harrowing scene involves a young girl having her teeth filed with a rock, to which Bruce reflects on beauty standards, “We do plenty in the name of beauty,” and “It’s just done in a different way.” The most difficult part for him was witnessing the circumcision of young boys, admitting, “They had no choice,” and “It was painful to watch.”
On his journey to the Indonesian island of Sumba, Bruce was deeply moved by the Marapu religion, with its focus on ancestor worship and blood sacrifices. He was brought to tears by the community’s philosophy, sharing: “It was beautiful because they don’t have the drive to be remembered. They know they’re part of something eternal.”
After returning to Somerset from a six-year stint in Wales, Bruce admits finding it hard to readjust to life back home. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, he reflects: “Heathrow feels overwhelming,” but acknowledges, “But I now see both worlds as part of a bigger picture.”
For Bruce, the series Tribe is more than just an exploration; it’s a wake-up call. He observes the stark contrast between the harmonious lifestyle of the tribes and our own society, noting: “These people live in harmony with the world,” and lamenting, “Meanwhile, we’ve only just realised we might have trashed the whole planet.”