The Tribal Eye
We checked 8 streaming services in India on 04 Jun 2026 at 14:58 IST
About
David Attenborough explains the enormous growth of interest in tribal art, and explores the emotions which lie behind the masks and decorations of primitive people.
Cast
Seasons
Episodes
Miniseries
Behind the Mask
The craftsmen of the Dogon people of Mali are among the finest sculptors in the world. The head of each household must tend the wooden cult figures in which the spirits of his ancestors dwell, feeding them regularly with millet and blood to ensure the fertility of the fields, the return of the seasonal rains and the health of the people. Concealed in remote desert shrines, the carvings are as meaningful to the Dogon as the Bible is to the Western world. Without their sculpture, some of the most splendid and crucial events in their lives could not take place.
Crooked Beak of Heaven
The Northwest Coast Haida, Gitksan and Kwakiutl Indians inhabit a beautiful, harsh land along the coast of British Columbia and south to Oregon. Pre-eminent carvers of wood, they created totem poles that are among the largest wooden sculptures ever made by man. Integrating footage made of tribal rights by Edward Curtis in 1912, the film contrasts them with those same rights today. The spectacular theatrical genius of these people is particularly vivid during the dance of the cannibal birds known to the Kwakiutl as “the crooked beak of heaven.”
Sweat of the Sun
Gold has fascinated people in all cultures, representing in their minds perfection and immortality. In the pre-Columbian Indian civilization of Central and South America native craftsmen fashioned gold into the most exquisite expressions of their culture. Few of the beautiful golden artifacts of the Aztecs and Incas are left today. Most of them were melted down by the pillaging Spanish conquistadors. However, some exquisite pre-Columbian art does still exists, and narrator David Attenborough describes how these were used by priests in practical and ritual fashion, including human sacrifice. He explores the Aztec and Inca sites, describing the lives of the people who occupied them and examining those breath-taking treasures that remain.
Kingdom of Bronze
In 1897 a group of African bronzes arrived in London that caused a sensation. Many European experts refused to believe that the bronzesmiths of the obscure ancient African kingdom of Benin in Nigeria could have developed the sophisticated technique of bronze-casting by themselves. David Attenborough traces the bronzes and the “lost wax” technique back to the craftsmen of Ife, the sacred town of the Yoruba people, predating by a century any European influence. We also see the beautiful and elegant portrait busts, plaques and standing figures which read as impressive chronicles of the elaborate court life under the autocratic Obas of Benin.
Woven Gardens
In a wonderful combination of beauty, function and tradition, this episodes features the rugs of the Qashqa’i Nomads of Iran. The rugs are a perfect mirror of the nomadic life of this Iranian people. Wool is gathered from sheep, goats and camels & dyes are made from the juices of plants. But with Qashqa’i rugs, beauty is second to function. They offer protection from the frozen ground and provide a shield against the bitter winds. When a girl marries a man from another group, she weaves the patterns her husband expects to see on his rugs, but she also integrates the images from her own tradition, thus creating a new family design.
Man Blong Custom
Some of the most spectacular and dramatic tribal sculpture in the world came from the islands of the Western Pacific. Today, Malekula, in the New Hebrides is one of the few places where people still carve in the old tradition. Rituals are held in the men’s cult-house, where masks and figures are made to be exhibited to boys as they become initiated into the spirit world. Life size effigies, the heads of which are human skulls fleshed out with clay, dance as cavorting puppets in funeral ceremonies. The images are startling, even horrifying, but they are essential elements in the religious life of the people. Without the one, the other would disappear. Then we journey to the neighboring Solomon Islands and examine their magnificent war canoes, their sea spirit dances, and an anthropological phenomenon, Moro. This island mystic arose to say that the gods of the island wished the people to send the foreign Christians back home and once again worship the ancients.
Across the Frontiers
Attenborough summarizes his exploration of tribal ways as seen through tribal arts. He explains that the structure of many tribal societies is so delicate that even apparently helpful ideas introduced from the outside can rock a community to its foundations and leave the people deeply confused, with no faith in the old and no real understanding of the new. Several contemporary examples of cross-cultural fertilization that produced worthy results are examined. Points out that it is an illusion that tribal societies have remained unchanged since time immemorial.
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Watch The Tribal Eye Online Free — All Episodes in HD
Looking for a place to watch The Tribal Eye online for free? You've landed on the right page. The Tribal Eye is a highly acclaimed English documentary series from 1975 that you can stream right now on Bowood.TV in high quality, no signup required.
About The Tribal Eye
David Attenborough explains the enormous growth of interest in tribal art, and explores the emotions which lie behind the masks and decorations of primitive people. Across 1 season and 7 episodes, originally airing on BBC Two.
The Tribal Eye Cast and Characters
The cast features David Attenborough. Their performances are a major reason The Tribal Eye has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch The Tribal Eye Online
Bowood.TV lets you stream The Tribal Eye online free, instantly, in HD. There's nothing to install — open the page, hit play, done. Works perfectly on Jio, Airtel, Vi networks across India and on slow mobile data thanks to our adaptive video pipeline.
▶ Watch The Tribal Eye NowWhy People Are Watching The Tribal Eye
There's a reason The Tribal Eye keeps showing up on "must-watch" lists. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Tribal Eye
Where can I watch The Tribal Eye online for free?
You can watch The Tribal Eye online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does The Tribal Eye have?
The Tribal Eye has 7 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is The Tribal Eye good? What's the rating?
The Tribal Eye holds a 8.8/10 rating based on 4 reviews — genuinely excellent.
Who is in the cast of The Tribal Eye?
The main cast includes David Attenborough.
Is The Tribal Eye available in English?
Yes — The Tribal Eye was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was The Tribal Eye released?
The Tribal Eye first aired in 1975.
Do I need an account to watch The Tribal Eye on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch The Tribal Eye without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Similar Series You Might Like
If you enjoyed The Tribal Eye, check out Eastward With Attenborough, Lost Mummies of New Guinea Update, Tribal Life: Papua New Guinea, Welcome to My Strange City, and 游走丹青.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Tribal Eye for free?
You can watch The Tribal Eye online for free on Bowood.TV. All 7 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does The Tribal Eye have?
The Tribal Eye currently has 1 season and a total of 7 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is The Tribal Eye about?
David Attenborough explains the enormous growth of interest in tribal art, and explores the emotions which lie behind the masks and decorations of primitive people. It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is The Tribal Eye originally available?
The Tribal Eye was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was The Tribal Eye first released?
The Tribal Eye first premiered on May 27, 1975 (1975). The series has since concluded its run.
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