The Wayuú community

Settled down in

Caracteristics

High temperatures

some aquifer wells

The river Ranchería passed for the territory

Municipalities

Barrancas

Distracción

Fonseca

Maicao

Uribia

Manaure

Riohacha

Caracteristics

High temperature

Arid desert

The river Limón passed for the territory

In the part call Guajira

Spanish

The most people of this community speak it

Wayuunaiki

this has six vowels

this has sixteen consonants

This is their official language

This means: "person with good use of reasoning"

This rice tastes different because the shrimp are parboiled and dried in the sun to dehydrate them and concentrate their flavor

Typical dish of the Wayuu, the goat is split with meat, bones and visors and then fried with salt

A very common dish in the inland municipalities of La Guajira

Cactus fruit, It has digestive properties and is the base of juices and wine

In rice, in soup and stew

48.88% are men and 51.12% women. The Wayuu population is concentrated in the department of La Guajira, likewise, it is also found in the department of Cesar and Magdalena

Customs

they express their conception of life and everything that surrounds them

the majayulu who is the adolescent woman, after her first bleeding she is forced to be locked in the house to keep her away from bad energies

the care she receives from her female relatives are:

a bath to hydrate and soften all her skin

this bath is water from kutena or naked indian

a diet based on fermented drinks such as:

guarapo, corn chicha or juices extracted from roots

her hair is cut so that it grows much stronger

in this state all the customs and traditions of her culture are transferred

the "Araña Wareke" teaches her the Wayuú knitting

The couple has to go through three process before of married ceremony

Hand request

The young uncle is the responsible of speak with the bride's parents

He have to express the intentions of the groom with the marriage

The groom can't do this because it means disrespect for the family and tradition

Dowry pact

It is a collection

The groom gives necklaces, animals and other goods to the bride's family

This happens because

in this culture the woman is the most important member of the family

and her departure represents a great loss for his familiars

Wayuú marriage day

It consist of

a great party where the inter-family relationship is formalized

delivery of the agreed dowry

In the Wayuú culture two waves are held

the first does not represent an eternal farewell

Friends and familiars of the deceased

settle in hammocks

eat goat meat

drink large quantities of "chirrinche"

At day

they hold vigil the deceased

they mourn the deceased

they remember to the deceased with longing

At night

they meet to talk, tell jokes and drink coffee

On the day of the burial

the deceased is taken out of the house to be taken to the cemetery

familiars and friends are next to the grave

other relatives shoot into the air to shoot the dead from the ground

in the second the soul of the deceased arrives at the gates of Jepira

Jepira is the land of the dead

10 or 15 years after the first burial

the familiars gather to prepare the ceremony of second wake

This ceremony is the responsibility of an elderly woman of the family

She is in charge of removing the remains of the corpse

she clean the remains and then place them in a crock pot

it is represents a true farewell

because of the deceased are taken to the ancestral cemetery and buried forever

The dance is danced on a clear and flat terrain called "el pioi"

This dance is by

to get a good harvest

to welcome a person into the community

to honor someone

to express thanks for what was obtained

to demonstrate forces and resistances

to start a friendly relationship

Men have to dance with all women until they get tired

they are offered a gift at the end of the dancing

Celebrations

The festival is celebrated every year between June 12, 13 and 14

Three days without rest full of fun, praising customs such as:

Majayut

the next ambassador of the Wayuu community is chosen by

her knowledge in the wayuunaiki language

her knowledge about traditions and current reality

Plays

children interpret the myths and legends of their culture

Competitions

shooting with cardón, wrestling, sling shooting and horse racing

Craft samples

Wayuu backpacks give rise to a parade of colorful threads full of meaning

Dances

Yonna or Kaulayaa

Contests

Wayuu instruments such as the kasha, the tariraü, the wontoloyaa and the turompa

Gastronomic samples

typical dishes such as friche, mazamorra and fish

Women

Wayushein or "Manta guajira"

loose fitting dress

Wusi

intimate gargment

The Kumas

Collars inherited for the ancestors

Colourful shawl in the head

Kapatera

a knitting bag

Waireñas

Leather sandals

Men

White shirt

White pant

Wayuco

Loincloth

Uwomü

hat made of straw

Waireñas

leather sandals

Special occasions

Made of Canvas or linen

Long pants

Hood

Shirt with logs sleeves

Coat and jacket

A mask or somethig to hide the face

Socks in the hands

Women use maracas in their hands

Women

A manta guajira

A shawl in the head that goes to the floor

Men

Original Wayuco with his belt

Carracho

Colourful and knitting hat with a peacock's feather