Ancient handcraft helps preserve culture, lifeline in Colombia
Ancient handcraft helps preserve culture, lifeline in Colombia
August 23, 2014
Wayuu is an indigenous tribe in Colombia. Their handmade bags produced by its female members are the primary source of income for the tribe. They have also become a fashion fad in major cities around the world. while the Wayuu Bags may be “trendy” accessories for upscale shoppers, the life of the Wayuu community is far from glamourous.
CCTV America’s Toby Muse reports.
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La Guajira, or the badlands, are the baking deserts are home to crime, smuggling and poverty. The tiny desert settlement of Atpanasira is in one of the hamlets that produces its most beautiful export: the mochila. Mochilas are handcrafted bags made by wayuu women Indians.
“These are important because it is the cultural legacy we pass on generation to generation,” said Nerita Epinayu, an indigenous woman of Atpanasira. “They teach us this when we become women, just as our mothers and grandmothers and all our ancestors were taught.”
The bright distinctive designs are inspired by the women’s dreams. These dreams have now become fashionable across the world.
Out on the streets of Riohacha, La Guajira’s largest city, wayuu women sell their bags to the trickle of tourists. If the women sell directly to a tourist, they can earn around $30 for each bag.
More:
http://www.cctv-america.com/2014/08/23/ancient-handcraft-helps-preserve-culture-lifeline-in-colombia