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Qui sont les Wayuu ? Les meilleurs tisserands au Monde

¿Quienes son los Wayuu

The Wayuu are an indigenous community living in the La Guajira region of Colombia and Venezuela. They are also known as Guajiros and are considered the largest indigenous ethnic group in Colombia, with a population of approximately 600,000. They follow the matriarchal lineage and have adapted to the weather of a desert with amazing landscapes facing the Caribbean Sea.

Desert of the Guajira

Desert of the Guajira

Geographical location of Guajira

Geographical location of Guajira

Desert of the Guajira

Desert of the Guajira

They see themselves as children of the earth and the rain. They have a spiritual relationship with nature and dreams.

For the Wayuu, their origin is explained by the birth of the union of the rain that fertilized the earth. The Wayuu legends tell that the earth was inhabited by plants and trees, then by animals, and finally by human beings.

D’où viennent les Wayuu ?

According to anthropological research, the Wayuu are descendants of the Arawak a people who had an important migratory current. They crossed the Amazon and the Antilles around 150 BC.

The Wayuu were a nomadic people who moved throughout the La Guajira region, hunting and gathering food for their livelihood. They also developed a rich artisanal culture, producing objects such as Wayuu hammockshammocks, bags and clothing from natural fibers.

The social life of Wayuu women

The social life and the weaving work of the Wayuu women

Colonization process

In the 16th century, the European conquerors arrived, but the Wayuu refused to submit. The settlers sought to conquer and colonize the region. This led to many conflicts between the Wayuu and the Spanish colonial forces. They successfully resisted many attempts by the Spanish to subdue them. They used guerrilla tactics and their knowledge of the terrain to defend their territory.

But in the 19th century, the governments of Venezuela and Colombia began their plans to subdue them. By 1893, they had been stripped and reduced. Thus, they ended up dividing the territory, while the Wayuu fled further north of the peninsula.

Maintaining traditions

Despite the pressures of the Spanish, this people have maintained their culture and traditions over the centuries. Today, this community continues to preserve their language, crafts, music and customs. They have adapted to the economic and social changes of the modern world.

However, the Wayuu continue to face many challenges (poverty, discrimination and economic and political marginalization). The Colombian and Venezuelan governments have taken steps to protect the rights of indigenous peoples, but the Wayuu community continues to struggle to preserve their identity and traditional way of life in the face of the forces of industrial development and urbanization.

Wayuu Women

Wayuu Women

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  • Their Wayuu language is wayuunaiki.
  • The traditional dance they practice is called Yonna. It is performed at special moments in the life of the community.
    traditional Wayuu dance

    Danse traditionnelle Wayuu

  • They are registered on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010, by UNESCO.
  • They are self-sufficient and live from fishing, livestock, trade and the sale of handicrafts.
  • It is one of the only matriarchal societies in Colombia. It is the women who govern the rules of the community. They inherit through their mothers the responsibility of their clan.
    The Wayuu community is managed by women

    The Wayuu community is managed by women

    Qui sont les Wayuu Les meilleurs tisserands au Monde

  • There are currently 32 clans.
  • They have dual nationality (Colombian and Venezuelan) because they live on the border of these two areas.
  • They always use medicinal plants to treat themselves
  • Jayeechi is the name of their song where they tell their daily life.
  • There is a wide variety of musical instruments among them; Sawawa, maasi and wotoroyoy.
Wayuu musical instrument

Wayuu musical instrument

Ceci n’est qu’un résumé d’une culture riche en coutumes et traditions qui s’est maintenue à travers les siècles. Pour aller plus loin, lisez nos autres articles pour apprendre de la Culture Wayuu.
Le tissage des hamacs Wayuu : dessins et symboles
Les hamacs les plus chers au Monde : Les hamacs Wayúu

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