At this time of year, we are all looking for that special present that is a little bit different! At Akuaipa Artisans, you can find a variety of wonderfully designed Wayuu bags (mochilas). The Wayuu are an indigenous community of Colombia who, with each generation, must fight constantly for the survival of their language and cultural traditions. The bags and their unique designs are a central part of their cultural identity. By buying a bag from Akuaipa Artisans, you will not only help preserve their weaving traditions, you will also directly support other projects that help Wayuu schools strengthen their school children’s knowledge of other Wayuu cultural practices.
The bag featured below contains special kanas (patterns in Wayunaiki), which have a specific name and meaning in Wayuu culture. Kanas itself is a word that means in Wayunaiki: ‘that which comes with goodness and knowledge’.
In the Wayuu belief system, the kanas were gifted to the Wayuu by Waleker. Waleker, a mythical spider, is recognized as the mother of all the Kanas and the knitting traditions of the Wayuu.
Buy yourself or a loved one a unique gift that is steeped in a vibrant cultural tradition! And by doing, support the survival of those traditions!
0 comments