Sarah Begum underwent the symbolic⁴ ritual aged⁵ just 21 after she left London to spend two weeks with the Huaroani tribe, which has 3,000 members in the mineral-rich Ecuadorian rainforest. 

 

Despite historically tense relations with outsiders dating to the 1950s, when five U.S. missionaries⁶ who tried to infiltrate⁷ the tribe were killed, she claimed she was welcomed with open arms. 

 

She learned how to weave with grasses and hunt with a blowpipe, and by the end of the period she had 'married' a warrior in his 50s named Ginkto - who spoke⁸ only the villagers' own Huaroani dialect and a few words of Spanish. 

 

It was a symbolic gesture to spread the tribe's plea for help against oil firms, not a legally binding⁹ marriage - but the language barrier meant things were not obvious at the start. 

 

'I was chosen by the elders and I had no idea what was going to happen to me,' she said. 

 

'I was called into a hut and everyone inside was naked. I was told they were making me their traditional clothes, which is a piece of string made of plant fibres worn around the waist – not even a thong¹⁰. 

 

'I thought, "I can't get naked, this is being filmed", and for a split second I thought about running away, but I wanted to fully¹¹ embrace and understand their traditions. 

 

'One of the women pulled off my underwear, and I gave in from there. The elder leader was chanting and the women were making chicha, their home-brewed beverage¹². 

 

'They were happy that I was totally naked and started to make a crown for me out of macaw feathers. 

 

'I was told, "they are going to make you Queen". I was surrounded by the women and warriors¹³ chanting and dancing in the hut - I thought I was being initiated¹⁴. 

 

'They gave me the chicha drink and the name Imaca, which means The Last Name, before marrying me to my husband-to-be, the tribe's most popular warrior, Ginkto.' 

 

'I had no idea what was going on. At first I thought it was just an initiation¹⁵ ceremony but then there was this guy next to me who had his arms around me. It was so surreal.' 

 

She said she was shocked at first, but it was explained that she was not expected to have a sexual relationship with Ginkto. Instead the marriage was an honorary one to build trust with the tribe. 

 

'They knew why I was there and wanted to show me how they lived', she said. 

 

'Ginkto is a lovely guy and a strong hunter, which makes him very popular with the women. He was also very funny and curious about my life in London. 

 

'We communicated through one of the other warriors who spoke Spanish to my cameraman. He asked all about my parents, my family and friends.' 

 

Ms Begum was one of many 'eco-tourists' and documentary makers¹⁶ hosted by the tribe over the years, but insisted the wedding ceremony was a rare occurrence.

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