Opoutjí

Opoutjí is a term that appears in a small body of ethnographic and folkloric materials, where it is described as a form of social sanction or ritual isolation within a community. There is no single, widely accepted definition, and the precise meaning of opoutjí varies across sources. Some scholars suggest a link to a root meaning to leave or depart, but the etymology is uncertain and contested.

In the descriptions where it appears, opoutjí is associated with a temporary withdrawal of an individual or group from ordinary communal life. This withdrawal may be contextualized as a response to perceived norm violations, disputes, or moral concerns, and can be accompanied by formal announcements, symbolic acts, or expectations of eventual reconciliation. The practice is often framed as a transitional phase rather than a permanent expulsion.

Practices attributed to opoutjí differ widely in detail. The duration can range from a few days to several weeks, and the scope of withdrawal may affect participation in rites, markets, feasts, and other communal activities. Reintegration typically follows some form of contrition, confession, or community decision, though the exact criteria and procedures are not consistently described across sources.

Scholarly reception of opoutjí is cautious. Because references are sporadic and heterogeneous, many researchers treat it as a folkloric motif or a contingent local custom rather than a universally attested social institution. Additional primary sources would be needed to establish a stable, comparative understanding of the term.

See also: exile, ostracism, ritual sanction, social ritual. Notes: this entry reflects the limited and fragmentary nature of existing sources; it remains a stub pending further documentation.