The Kogui Indians, approximately 3,500, resist in the valleys of the northern area of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Their clothing and the Poporo are characteristic of this tribe.
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The Kogui, also known as Kaggabba, are an indigenous people of Colombia. The use of poporo and other traditions are vital to them. They live on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in the valleys of the Don Diego, Palomino, San Miguel and Ancho rivers.
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The Kogui constitute another indigenous group that lives in the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta; they are the community that has preserved most of its traditions and has had the least contact with people outside their group. They are organized in villages where the central figure of authority is the mother, a pillar of Kogui culture that embodies sacred law.
In the villages, which are made up of circular houses where only a few families with a specific rank reside, there is a female temple and a male temple. Families also gather in the villages to carry out community work, celebrate festivals or discuss matters of common interest in assemblies.
The activity of weaving is a widespread and valued occupation among the Kaggabba people. The fibers they use are natural because they are extracted from the Fique tree, and are used for the production of backpacks, dresses and traditional crafts. To dye all these accessories, the roots and bark are used.
Poporos and backpacks
The poporo is an emblem of great importance in the Kogui community. When a young indigenous person receives it, it means that he has reached the age of majority, that is, 18 years old. This object is a dry gourd that contains a powder made from lime obtained from seashells, which is mixed with coca leaves to extract its juices.
To use it, they extract the dust from the gourd with a small stick, mix it with the wet leaves on their cheeks, and then rub this mixture, moistened with saliva, on the top of the gourd. The poporo symbolizes maturity, responsibility, reflection, and wisdom.
While poporo is characteristic of men, backpack weaving is an activity specific to women. They weave daily, and from a very young age, girls begin to practice their first stitches and make their first backpacks, guided by their mothers or older sisters.
The materials used to weave Arhuaco backpacks include earth colors, with shades ranging from brown, beige and gray, to black.
Cotton, wool and fique are the materials used in its manufacture.
The Mamo, a central figure in the Kogi belief system, acts as a mediator between celestial forces and human beings. His wisdom and knowledge are essential to maintaining the balance between these forces, ensuring the harmony and well-being of his community.
Finally, the Sierra is seen by them as a human body: the snowy peaks represent the head, the lakes of the moors the heart, the rivers and ravines the veins, the layers of earth the muscles, and the grasslands the hair. With this vision, the entire geography of the Sierra is considered a sacred space.
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