monan

Behind the name

A name connected to creation.

Monan takes its name from a creator figure in historical accounts of Tupinambá cosmology, an Indigenous tradition of Brazil.

The story behind Monan

Accounts recorded by André Thevet in the sixteenth century associate Monan with the creation of the sky, earth and living beings. These accounts reached us through a European observer, and should be read with that context in mind.

Many peoples. Living cultures.

Tupi-Guarani names a language family, not a single people or one shared mythology. Here we refer specifically to Tupinambá accounts. Indigenous peoples and their cultures are part of Brazil’s present, not only its past.

Why this name for a creative tool?

The connection to creation inspired the name. With Monan, an idea and a few dimensions can become something you can hold. This is our interpretation for the product, not a translation of the name or a claim to represent Indigenous peoples.

Keep learning

These sources provide historical context and a starting point for further reading.