What did you think of the show? The dead not only consist of ancestors, but also mythical beings of the masters of plants and animals. Required fields are marked *, © 2017 / 2021 - Tristan Quevilly - All right reserved - Privacy Policy. The black line shows the sacred sites of the Línea Negra—a network of ancestral sites identified by the indigenous elders of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Taironas made statuettes using the lost wax technique, which made it possible to have relics in volume with great finesse in detail. 50 km von der Küste entfernt. She conceived us as ideas. The ceremony can last until midnight or even later, either in the hut or in the open air. Despite having a very healthy lifestyle, it is one of the things that affects young children the most. The Mamos are not to be confused with shamans or curers but to be regarded as tribal priests who hold highly respected roles in Kogi society. According to the Austrian anthropologist Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff, the Kogi burial is still close to the rite practiced by the Taironas. When two men meet, a handful of leaves are exchanged as a sign of mutual respect. There are also women priests in the villages. A mochila woven by an ancestral know-how, made of entirely natural fibre, should be worth a fortune! With a sword in hand they quickly went hunting for the natives and murdered Rodrigo de Bastidas shortly afterwards. I have also heard that when men wear the mochila in a cross, it is a sign of spiritual retreat. Hi Helena, Its energizing virtues also allow them to keep their strength during long walks in the Sierra Nevada, while cutting off their hunger. Maintaining the paths of the Sierra by walking would be considered as the act of weaving a mochila. These ceremonies include offerings, dances, and other ritual affairs. The Kogis currently represent 0.66% of Colombia’s indigenous population. They were asking for gold and blood, that’s why they came for. In short, we have a long way to go… 2. Over time, this withdrawal proved to be life-saving and allowed the Kogis to live cut off from the world until the 1950s. This is relative because a higher proportion of the population believes they have some level of education. What the viewer does not realize is that the funerary customs have philosophic concepts and deeper underlying meanings beyond the dimension of the western world. Official DIAN figures in 2005 showed that only about 9,000 indigenous Kogis still live in the mountains. The size of this layer depends on the maturity and the age of the Kogi man. Ignored from the civil world until the years 70, the Lost city or. The village’s money is managed by the Commissioner and is used mainly for travel, when they have to meet between communities, or for collective work such as trail maintenance and bridge construction. The Kogis live practically self-sufficient in the Sierra, and therefore have minimal financial income. Although many offering sites are now known to the civil world (such as the site of Piscina in Tayrona Park), a large part remains known only to the Mamos. Als Baby kommen einige von ihnen – Männer wie Frauen – in eine dunkle Höhle und leben bis zu ihrem 9. bzw. The Kogi have many characteristics that define their culture. A good Mamo listens to the Guas in confession to determine what offense to the Mother was the cause of the poor harvests. What are your impressions of the Kogi people? We often see the natives rubbing their sticks on the Poporo, mechanically, even though the stick is already dry… In reality, this is a highly symbolic gesture: they record or “write” their thoughts on their Poporo. By rapidly turning the corpse, one becomes invisible and invulnerable to Death. Imprisoning water in dams seems inconceivable, it’s like making a withers. But when we complain that in Brazil they raze the Amazon forest for cattle breeding and palm oil, and then we eat meat every day, we shouldn’t look any further…. These are some of the most beautiful pieces in Colombia. The clothes are made from a variety of cotton endemic to the Sierra Nevada, whose flowers are slightly smaller than the cotton we know. The two hemispheres are then divided into four segments: North/South/East/West. This sacred domain was then almost uninhabited. The Kogi (/ˈkoʊɡi/ KOH-gee), or Cogui, or Kágaba, meaning "jaguar" in the Kogi language,[2] are an indigenous ethnic group that live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in northern Colombia. They rub their hands on the opening of the empty shell, and this produces a vibration whose sound is close to Tibetan bowls. Thank you! If we take Everest from the base of its plateau, the Sierra Nevada is higher. It is also in this realm that the essence of agriculture is nurtured: seeds are blessed in Aluna before being planted, to ensure they grow successfully; marriage is blessed to ensure fertility; and ceremonies are offered to the different spirits of the natural world before performing tasks such as harvest and building of new huts. They say that our actions of exploitation, devastation, and plundering for resources is weakening "The Great Mother" and leading to our destruction. The arrival of settlers in the 15th century disrupted their diet. Marked emphasis on right and left: position of hands; position of the corpse; left turns and right turns. The Kogi starred in and help film the 2012 documentary film Aluna, a sequel to the BBC documentary From the Heart of The World: Elder Brother's Warning. It is indeed much faster than pruning by hand, and it brings in good harvests in the first few years. Their vision of gold was totally different from ours. Women make their first Mochila from an early age. Kogis are also known as Kogis, kouguian, kogi, cogui, cogui, and kággabba. The Arhuacos are also fervent defenders of nature. Common crops of trade are sugar and coffee. In this one would exist 9 worlds, each with its own land and inhabitants. The men wear long white pants called Kalasuna, as well as a long-sleeved shirt, always with their mochilas on their chest. It is during family pilgrimages or seaside ceremonies that the Kogis will collect them. They have experienced a great loss of food quality with the introduction of new starch-rich plants. Then the child learns by listening, by listening spiritually, the knowledge comes to him from Aluna. Officially, Colombian law does not have any effect within this area. For example, all Kogi men receive a "poporo" when they come of age. They always have a certain mistrust when they meet us, and always keep in mind the atrocities that civilians have inflicted on them. Les Indiens Kogis vivent en totale autarcie économique et intellectuelle. Protect the nature To help the Kogi it’s very simple: start by helping yourself, in other words help the planet! They quickly learn how to do the basic tasks. It was seen as an offering to be improved by man. They are thus permanently in a state of advanced consciousness. We must not believe that the Kogis will welcome us with open arms into their society, quite the contrary, the less they see us the better they are. Weaving activity is a widespread and valued role within the Kággabba people and is purely part of the kággabba tradition. Und das höchste Küstengebirge der Welt rahmt die Stadt förmlich ein, die Spitzen der Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mit 5775 Metern befinden sich nur ca. The earth is like the human body because it is made of the same elements. Flexed position of the corpse, placed in a carrying net, with a rope tied to the hair. Traditional Kogi religion is closely related to the structure of the cosmic universe that exists in dualistic expressions. The funeral lasts about 2 hours and is celebrated without prayers or songs, which may seem simple. Out of respect for the elders, young people should ensure that the orifice of their Poporo is no wider than that of their elders. The Kogi , or Cogui, or Kágaba, meaning "jaguar" in the Kogi language, are an indigenous ethnic group that live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in northern Colombia. Photographer living near the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta for 4 years, I have had the privilege of sharing extraordinary moments with this unique culture. Each object a symbol of other possibilities. Vol. contradictory agricultural techniques Although the Kogis live in perfect harmony with nature, they practice a somewhat contradictory method of cultivation: burning. 84% of Kogis still speak the native language, which shows a high level of cultural conservation The Mamos speak the 3 languages of Sierra Nevada. Relationships were rather friendly in the early years. The Kággabbas live in small villages called Kuibulos. Each segment of the lineage is linked to a village and a ceremonial house. The great city “Teyuna” was quickly looted, burned, and women raped. The Kággabas only learn Spanish in school, and many speak it only very little. When official meetings are scheduled, the Kogis bring a branch of wood with them as an offering, and will be used to fuel the fire on long nights of meetings. The Mamo or Mama, represents the central figure of Kogi culture and embodies the sacred law. This cosmic structure has influenced four entrances to each village, four principal clans, and has divided the Sierra Nevada into four sections. Burial rites are an act of “cosmification”. For the other instruments, they use elements such as sea shells, and pieces of wood, and instruments such as Gaitas (flutes made of reeds). For the village, he acts as an advisor, teacher, doctor and priest. Your email address will not be published. They refer to outsiders as ‘the younger brothers.’ The older brothers believe it is their responsibility to maintain the balance of the universe. Here is a very nice video that represents the myth of the origin of the Kogis: Cashinducua and the creation of the Kogis. Since the Taironas, Coca is a food, because of its high vitamin and mineral content, but it is also a spiritual food. Sie … The “Aboriginals” then ceased their armed resistance and bowed to the new masters who spoke a strange language and worshipped another distant but no less relentless God. They think that everything is duality. The clothes are made on a Telar (loom) whose shape would represent the 4 ethnic groups by its 4 ends. The type of offering can range from natural cotton to shells, or quartz, a stone very rich in energy according to the Kogi culture. However, it is the woman who collects the leaves. Dazu zählen der Santa-Marta-Kapuzineraffe (Cebus malitiosus), die Santa-Marta-Elfe (Chaetocercus astreans), der Santa-Marta-Zaunkönig (Troglodytes monticola) und die Santa-Marta-Kreischeule (Megascops gilesi). Properties acquired to date for the Kogi along the Línea Negra in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, together consolidating Jaba Tañiwashkaka. This page was last edited on 16 February 2021, at 13:02. Kogi men and women all carry traditional bags across their shoulders. At the time, they housed a large shopping centre (but not like ours !). Indeed, we will never see women wearing the mochila around the neck except in a band around the head, especially to carry babies. Mother Goddess, the creator of the universe and mankind, created the cosmic egg. [7] In turn they contacted the same filmmaker twenty years later to give one final message. Following this concept, the Kogi have structured the ceremonial houses and sacred offering sites into four quadrants. In der Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta kommen einige endemische, das heißt nur dort vorkommende Tierarten vor. Their faces, writ with quiet courage, sober indignation, and a long, patient wisdom, defy easy dismissal. The "poporo" is a small, hollow gourd that is filled with "lima," a type of powder that is made by heating and crushing shells to produce lime. Thus, men are the owners of land and livestock, and women are the owners of houses. This Mochila is also very practical to distinguish children. I have to invite him back there; he asked to be invited back three more times, and I need to find him. Get now a. Most of the pieces were made in the centuries preceding the conquest, and some would date back to the 6th century. Each man carries a small mochila with coca leaves on him, which he chews to obtain a slightly stimulating effect. There was only the mother alum, a pure thought without form. Indeed, at the Santa Marta Gold Museum, there are magnificent statuettes of great finesse made by the taironas. Les teintures utilisées sont des racines, feuilles et écorces d’arbres. Often, during my walks, I have often seen them set fire to mountainsides without any control over its extent. It was probably the nerve center of the entire Sierra Nevada, and it is estimated that at least 3000 people lived there. Each family owns 2 or more plots of land in the area, with agriculture being the main activity of the economy. They consider us as children. The Kogi live in a series of villages, called Kuibolos,[12] containing circular huts made of stone, mud, and palm leaves. Kogi music is characterized by a monotonous and repetitive sound, a song to nature. So she has to go back and leave him. Through music, they simulate the sounds produced by the sea, rivers and animals. The central point holds great significance to the Kogi people. The list below dictates eight components of the burial ritual analyzed by anthropologist Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff.[10]. In the center of the circle, he places a tiny stool upon the spot where he receives and answers questions of the cosmic universe. The mochila thus makes it possible to recognize the boys of the girls because the boys wear the mochila and the girls wear necklaces. On the drawing below, we can well imagine their diet: Ancestrally, they cultivated potatoes, cassava, malanga, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, beans, etc… Not to mention the Coca leaf, an energy and spiritual food. Each village contains a large hut called a "nuhue" or temple where only men are allowed. 12 beautiful photos of Lost City Trek to inspire your next hike, 20 best Pictures of Tayrona Park Colombia (2020), 21 ideas to make pictures of Cartagena (2021). The Kogis from Colombia see themselves as the keeper of the world and are one of the most spiritual and traditional indigenous tribes in Colombia, maybe of whole… When two Kogi men meet, they use the customary greeting, which is to exchange handfuls of coca. Some are related to those found in Central America and the Caribbean coastal areas, and some to species from the Andes. Die Region entwickelt sich gerade hin zur ersten Adresse in Sachen Natur in Kolumbien, ideal … Actions for which it is necessary to “give back in the spiritual” what is taken from the mother and the spirits. It is the Mamo who will decide when the child is ready for Poporo, according to his level of maturity. Rodrigo de Bastidas who, despite what is said, had fallen in love with culture and maintained friendly relations with the local population. Only the Mamos can play an instrument called kuiguma, made with a morrocoyo shell. Men make their own clothes. Brothers-in-law and brothers are preferred, but it can be with neighbours. The best way to help them would then be to let them live in peace and help them through the foundations. KOGI, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, … Kogui. The largest Kogi villages in the Sierra are called: Marwámake, Surumuke, Chendúcva, Surachuí, Avingue, Seyuyaku, Kasakumake, Gumake, Umandita, Kuisis, Nimaysi, Taminaca, Mamarongo and Jiwatá. I will ask to some friends and see I can get his contact. Music is a way of transmitting stories and visions. Les femmes portent une tunique blanche avec une épaule dégagée, et portent de jolis colliers de perles multicolores. Heart, liver, lung. 18-jährige Ausbildung in der Dunkelheit. 1951. the Kogis also have other older brothers who live on other slopes of the Sierra Nevada: the Arhuacos, the Wiwas and the Kankuamos. The best way to communicate with our ancestors and make our ancestral traditions a reality. Much of the sugar is turned into "panela," a type of Colombian hardened brown sugar. Indeed, for the Kággabba people, the Sierra is Sé Nenulang – the physical and spiritual universe with all its components. This changes them from the daily malanga and yuca of the house.