Colombian Wayuu Bags & Other Crafts - Our Communities
zenÚ
Zenú: "The people of the Word."
The Zenú, or Sinú is a community is located in the valleys between the Sinú and Cauca rivers in Colombia. Its settlements span in territories of the Departments of Cordoba, Sucre, and Antioquia. There are over 230,000 individuals that belong to this community.
ARHUACo
The Arhuaco are descendants of the ancient Tayrona culture. They are settled in the in northern parts of Colombia, in one of the world's highest elevation coastal ranges in the world, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. They believe their Sierra Nevada is the heart of the world, and that the planet’s well being depends on it.
GEMINIS
artesanias
Geminis Artisians are located in the department of Choco where they develop their crafts from natural fibers from the Damagua Tree, the "Cabecinegro" which is the fiber that covers its fruit, and the bark that covers its tallus.
guacamayas
boyaca
Surrounded by the Andean mountains of the Cordillera Oriental, this town in northern Boyacá preserves one of the most recognized artisan trades in the country, basketry in rolls of fique with straw.
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With love, passion and conviction to make the best of their traditions known to the entire world, the artisans of Guacamayas start their day very early to create handicrafts that demonstrate how the knowledge of their ancestors has been transmitted from generation to generation, keeping valid to this day.
PAISA
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Paisa is someone from the northwestern Andean region of Colombia including the Departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío. The main cities are the capitals of Medellín, Manizales, Armenia and Pereira.
The Paisas originated from Spanish immigrants that came from Extremadura, Andalucía, and the Basque Country among others.
Kankuamos
Kankuamo indigenous people are located in the Department of Cesar in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
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Kakuamos are one of the inhabitants of the Sierra along with the Kogui, Arhuaco and Wiwa. Each of the tribes represent a leg of the “table” (which is the Sierra). The Kakuamos are the guardians of the balance of the world, and the Kogui, Arhuaco and Wiwa are the guardians of the tradition. The mountain is born at the Caribbean Sea and rises to the snow-covered summits.
toro miura
Artesanias Toro Miura, creates Galapa masks of the Barranquilla Carnival and other accessories. The community is located in Galapa in the Department of Atlántico.
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These are carved out of wood from the red ceiba and cañahuate trees which guarantees its quality. They are then hand-painted with local designs.
The Barranquilla Carnival is one of the most important celebrations in Colombia.
copoarte
Copoarte is a company or artisians that recreate the famous “Chivas” or “Escaleras” A chiva (Goat), and “escalera” (ladder) is a rustic bus used the countryside of Colombia and is used to transport people and agricultural goods in the mountainous regions. They are made of wood and colourfully decorated. Artisians recreate these “Chivas” in clay and make them in all sizes. Copoarte is well know for their quality and detail of their creations.
