LOS WAYUU – ‘People of the sun, wind and desert’
Los Wayuu is the largest indigenous Indian community of Colombia inhabiting Península de la Guajira – the northernmost piece of South America. Wayuu Indians live at the border between Colombia and Venezuela, but they do not identify themselves as citizens of any of these countries. Their identity is Wayuu.
The life of Los Wayuu
These desert nomads live in settlements of several families (so- called clans). Men deal with goat and cattle breeding and plant cultivation, while women carry for the home, children and the art of weaving, which is the main source of income for their families. They live in makeshift homes, so-called ‘rancherias’ whose walls are made of mud and straw, and roofs of palm and cactus leaves. At home, in addition to basic simple furniture, there is a hearth with a large pot hung above from the ceiling, which the women use to prepare traditional dishes. They sleep in hand- woven hammocks, the so-called ‘chinchorros’, which protect against cold and insects. Thanks to a simple life in symbiosis with the surrounding nature, which is still rarely reached by mass culture, the traditions and customs of this amazing people have survived to this day. The economic situation of the Wayuu community is very difficult, they live in extreme poverty, suffering and dying due to malnutrition, lack of water, adequate medical care and infrastructure.
Women’s matriarchate
Like every community, Wayuu Indians have a political system in which government exercises power. However, they stand out very much against the background of Latin machismo, an unusual matriarchy in this part of the world. It is women who have the main political functions, children bear their mother’s names and inheritance runs in the female line. Wayuu women manage clans and care for economic security because they are strong and responsible, and because they are also wise, they care about maintaining culture and continuing the tradition of their tribe.
The culture of weaving
Wayuu Indians have a deeply rooted sense of identity due to their rich culture and their own language. For centuries, from generation to generation, they have cultivated the oral transmission of their traditions full of unusual rites, legends and beliefs. Undoubtedly, the greatest and most powerful heritage of Wayuu’s identity is the art of weaving. ‘To be a woman is to know how to weave,’ say the Wayuu Indians, and it’s hard to disagree with them. Weaving can be about a variety of threads, plots, those from yarn but also from feelings, faith, emotions, family or tribal history. That is why to them, weaving is a symbol of wisdom and creativity. So, they weave at any time free of household chores creating handbags, ponchos, scarves and hammocks. Of course, the most famous and recognisable are Mochila handbags called ‘SUSU’. Their characteristic feature are geometric patterns that refer to folk symbols called ‘KANAA’ as well as colourfulness and intensity of hues. However, symbolically the most important work for a woman is Wayuu, a hand-woven, colourful hammock. Family and clan life revolve around it. This hanging bed is used for sleeping and resting after the hardships of the day, as well as calming and sleeping children. It is also a place of work, discussions and meetings. It brings together the culture and life philosophy of the Wayuu tribe.
„Być kobietą to wiedzieć jak pleść” mówią Indianki Wayuu
It’s incredible that as little as a year ago we didn’t know about the existence of Wayuu Indians, and today we feel like we’ve known these women forever. We have become fascinated not only with the works of their own hands, which are Mochila handbags, but above all their culture and philosophy of life, so much with respect to the surrounding nature. We only know the artists who make Mochila bags for us from video chats and from many hours of conversation with our mutual friend Jade. We hope to fulfil our greatest dream in the near future and see the inaccessible beauty of Guajira and meet these extraordinary women in person.