The Indigenous Community of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Kogi.

Children in the Kogi indigenous community of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Exploring the ancient wisdom and knowledge of the Kogi, the indigenous tribe located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta until the coastline of La Guajira, Palomino.

The Kogi indigenous community Shaman, in their village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Visiting the Caribbean Coast of Colombia and all across the coast line from Santa Marta until Palomino, you can notice the Kogi people. The Kogi, meaning jaguar, are an indigenous group that resides in that area, over the coast and in the Sierra Nevada mountains. They are there pre-Columbian era.  The Kogi, living in the mountains in the northern side of Colombia, kept their traditional clothing, beliefs, way of living and habitation for many years.

The artisanal women and children of the Kogi indigenous community in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

A child from the Kogi indigenous community at their village in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

My personal observation is that the Kogi has difficulties to emerge with the socio-economic development of the Colombians on the Caribbean Coast. You can witness they do not have their own market or stores, many times they are wondering around the villages and little towns of the Coast, begging for food and money. This is unfortunate because I believe that helping the Kogi to preserve their culture and customs is very important for humanity. The Kogi are very talented in their artisanal and while visiting in one of the villages I was able to buy traditional mochillas and traditional clothing that are prepared for sale. The traditional clothing are different from the ones that the Kogi themselves wear. The Kogi women wear one piece of white dress, tied on the shoulders and the material for the dress is all hand-made from natural materials. The men wear white shirts and pants, tied with a robe on their waist. The Kogi wear only white clothing as they believe that white represents the Great Mother, and therefore the purity of nature. 

Noy after purchasing the traditional mochilla at the village of the Kogi in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Traditional designs and meanings for the mochillas hand-made of the Kogi indigenous community in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

The Kogi people walk hours among the towns barefoot and always in groups. You can witness very young girls with children as their age for marriage can be 14 years old. The Kogi’s facial features are very similar to each other, which is usually black hair, black eyes, olive skin, high-check bones and being short. The beauty of their women is noticeable and they are often celebrate arranged marriages among the families. Those ceremonies take place in their villages. Their villages are called Kuibolos. 

Typical home in the Kogi indigenous community village in the mountains of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Typical village in the Kogi indigenous community in the mountains of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

We were fortunate to visit the village of the Kogi. Each house is built of mud and stone mixed together with palm leaves. In the village, the woman with the children and the men live in different homes. In the village, there is the Maloka, which is for the Kogi called the nuhue, it is the temple where all the major decisions and discussions are taking place, including the ceremonies. The most famous village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is called Ciudad Perdida , where many tourists take a 3-day hike to get to that village. 

From the Kogi indigenous village, viewpoint of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in Colombia.

The surroundings of the Kogi village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

The Kogi have their own language and their lifestyle beliefs is around the Great Mother, who they believe is the force behind nature. The Kogi believe that the mountain is a place significant as the heart of the world. 

Swing on the top of the Kogi indigenous village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Sunset of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, outlook from the Kogi indigenous village.

I believe that this tribe needs to get more assistance from society in a way to preserve their culture and traditions, while coping with the social-economic developments of the Colombian Coast. I enjoy visiting the Kogi and I highly recommend supporting them. 

Sunset from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, home of the Kogi indigenous tribe in Colombia.

White dog resting in the Kogi indigenous village in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Colombia.