Wayuu Bags: Handcrafted Crochet
Art with a Purpose

The Wayuu people of Colombia craft handmade mochilas (Wayuu bags) using traditional techniques, preserving their cultural heritage while generating resources to support the education and well-being of their children.

How Colombian Tradition Is Woven Into Wayuu Bags

Colombia is a country rich in traditions, a multicultural nation that showcases the diversity of its region through vibrant colors and ideas reflected in its handicrafts. Among the most famous handcrafted items are the Wayuu bags, created by the Wayuu people. These bags are woven with unique materials and designs, making each one distinct.

The name “Wayuu” means “People of Sand, Sun, and Wind” in the Wayuunaiki language, which is part of the Arawakan language family. This language is a key element of the Wayuu people’s ethnic and cultural identity. The Wayuu women, known for their resilience and craftsmanship, have long fought for their rights, creating art that is deeply rooted in their history and spirit. As Ana Delia Fernández Sijuana, a member of the Wayuu people, says, “There is no artistic creation of our own, as an indigenous people, that we have not conceived from the depths of our being and feeling as part of a millennia-old people.”

The tale behind Wayuu bags

The Wayuu people believe they learned the art of weaving from a mythical spider named Wale’kerü. According to legend, this spider wove magical pieces using threads from her mouth, creating beautiful sashes and bags under the moonlight. One night, a young girl, captivated by the spider’s skill, approached to admire her work. Touched by the girl’s curiosity, Wale’kerü offered to teach her the sacred craft of weaving, passing down the timeless art that would become central to Wayuu culture.

This ancient technique, dating back to the Pre-Columbian period, continues to be practiced today, thanks to the skills passed down through generations of women from the Wayuu ethnic group in Colombia.

The story also tells that Wale’kerü, the mythical spider, fell in love with a Wayuu boy and ran away with him. The boy’s mother, showing kindness, gave the spider cotton to provide shelter in the wild. However, the spider consumed all the cotton, and soon after, thread began to emerge from her mouth, ready for weaving. As time went on, Wale’kerü began teaching the young women of the community the art of weaving, but she cautioned them to focus intently, for she couldn’t always be there to guide them.

In Wayuu creation myths, weaving transcends being a simple cultural practice or ancestral tradition; it becomes a way of expressing life itself, in harmony with their emotions and desires. The deep connection between the Wayuu people and weaving is entwined with a feminine spirit that holds great significance in their culture. This spirit is as immortal as the art of weaving itself, as Wayuu society is organized around matrilineal clans. In the home, women are the weavers, caregivers, and keepers of the household, while in the community, their presence is a powerful symbol of respect and unity.

According to Wayuu tradition, when girls reach adolescence, they enter the “Süttüsü Paülü’ü,” a special “enclosure” within the homestead where they learn the sacred art of weaving and the wisdom necessary for their role as women, the cornerstone of the matrilineal Wayuu society.

In this space, the young girls are taught by their mothers, grandmothers, and maternal aunts to spin thread, work the loom, and weave hammocks, sashes, cords, and Wayuu bags. Throughout this journey, they are guided by the spirit of Wale’kerü, the mythical spider who taught their ancestors to weave, ensuring that the art and cultural wisdom are passed down through the generations.

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