Meet the Wayuu People and Their Famous Wayuu Bags

Group of Wayuu girls in traditional dress and face paint.

The Wayuu are a fiercely independent people who call the scorching seaside desert of La Guajira their home. They are as famous for their vibrant traditions as they are for their stunning shoulder bags. In this post, we’ll explore the people behind the iconic Wayuu bags and delve into the lives and culture of these incredible artisans.

Who Are the Wayuu People?

Traditional Wayuu dance.

The Wayuu are an indigenous group living on the isolated La Guajira Peninsula, which juts out into the Caribbean Sea. Much like the Comanche of the Southwestern United States, they quickly became skilled marksmen and horsemen after the arrival of Europeans. This, combined with their harsh desert environment, helped them maintain their independence throughout the colonial period.

Today, the tribe is divided into small, semi-nomadic clans. Their homes are made from thin strips of cactus wood lashed together and sealed with mud. Little grows in the desert, and while the Wayuu cultivate their own varieties of beans and squash during wet years, they primarily rely on herding goats and cattle. These animals, along with necklaces of red stones called tuuma, are their main store of wealth.

Throughout the colonial period and well into the 20th century, outsiders invaded Wayuu lands and kidnapped them as slaves. This history of struggle has cemented their culture and fostered a fierce sense of independence. Their native language, Wayuunaiki, is still widely spoken, and traditional dress is common. Women play a central role in society, as families are matrilineal, with the family name passed from mother to children. Women also organize communities, and young girls undergo an intense ritual of seclusion and training upon reaching maturity. It is during this time that they learn the sacred art of making Wayuu bags.

The Art of Wayuu Crochet Bags

The Wayuu are most famous for their crochet bags, known as mochilas or susu. According to legend, the Wayuu were taught to crochet by the mythical spider Walekeru. While out hunting, a man discovered Walekeru in the form of a lost girl in the desert. He took pity on her and brought her back to his village. The villagers were amazed by the beautiful bags and hammocks she made, but she was determined to keep her identity a secret from all but the hunter she fell in love with. When he was tricked into revealing her truth, she fled, never to be seen again—but not before passing on the art of weaving.

Today, all Wayuu women are expected to master the art of weaving, spending years studying traditional patterns and techniques. These bags are not only a crucial part of their culture and identity but also a necessity for everyday life. They are used to carry tools and belongings on journeys across the desert, while tending animals, or simply in day-to-day activities.

The Process of Creating Wayuu Bags

Bárbara of the Uriana (Tiger) clan crochets a new bag.

The secrets of Wayuu crochet are passed from mother to daughter during an intensive period of teaching when a girl reaches puberty. The materials are simple: two hooked crochet needles and threads to weave with. The process begins with a tiny circle made using just one color. As the circle expands, the weaver ties in threads of different colors. To create the pattern, one color is chosen to be visible. This colored thread is wrapped around the others, like insulation around a wire, hiding them from view. It is also woven through the previous row, connecting it to the rest of the piece. In this way, the bag slowly spirals outward. If you look closely, you may even see some of the hidden colors peeking out behind the loops of the outer weave.

Mastering these techniques takes many years. As the stitching becomes finer and the designs more complex, the weaver earns respect within the community. This skill is not only essential for creating a much-needed tool but also serves as a tangible piece of their culture.

The Economic and Cultural Importance of the Bags

Wayuu bags are incredibly important to the community, both as a symbol of their culture and as a source of income. While these bags have become popular throughout Colombia and even the world, they remain a potent symbol of Wayuu identity.

Carried almost everywhere, the bags complement other unique aspects of Wayuu culture—traditional dress, cactus wood huts, and their native language—to strengthen a sense of community and identity.

These bags also hold spiritual significance for the Wayuu. Every member of the tribe has a tiny bag said to contain their spirit. It would be dangerous if another person obtained their spirit bag or even knew its location, so they hide them carefully and never reveal them to others. In this way, they protect themselves from evil forces and those who wish to harm them.

Crocheting bags is also a vital source of income. Basic services are only slowly reaching the region, and the desert is a difficult place to live. Climate change has made things even harder. When the rains fail, no crops can grow, and even the hardy herd animals suffer. Political instability has added to their burdens in recent years. La Guajira straddles the border of Colombia and Venezuela. In the past, many Wayuu would migrate to Venezuela for work during the dry season, but now there is no work to be found, and the security situation is poor. These challenges have made traditional arts one of the few stable sources of income for many families.

A Wayuu elder relaxes in front of his hut. The short stick marks him out as a community judge.

The Wayuu and Their Environment

The Wayuu people are shaped by their desert world. Their peninsula, fringed by beautiful Caribbean shores, has been a refuge from the outside world, but it is no easy place to live. The sandy landscape is covered in cacti and thorny scrub, and securing water is a perennial challenge. This problem is exacerbated by the diversion of scarce water to massive coal mines to the south, from which the Wayuu see little benefit but plenty of pollution.

Traditionally, the rainy season provided just enough water for them to plant drought-tolerant beans, squash, and even cotton. However, climate change has not been kind. The rains have failed for multiple years in a row, leaving no crops to plant and insufficient vegetation for their herds to graze on. With so many challenges converging, the past few years have been devastating for the Wayuu. Most lack basic services, and nearly a third of children suffer from malnutrition.

How We Support the Wayuu

Lost Canyon Imports was founded not only to help save endangered art but also to preserve the communities that create it. While the tradition of Wayuu bags is not at risk—they are popular throughout Colombia and the world—the Wayuu people themselves are facing particularly hard times. We believe it’s essential to support this vibrant culture.

Over the past three years, I’ve made three trips to La Guajira, getting to know the people and their culture. Barbara Almazo and her family have been incredibly kind and generous. I’ve tried to repay the favor by bringing books and supplies for the local school and teaching the children about my culture, climate, and geography. Wholesalers and middlemen have taken advantage of the region’s difficulties, and most artists are underpaid for their work. We currently pay 50% more than what Barbara initially asked and hope to make it double if  the mess with tariffs stabilizes. The entire community weaves, and because Lost Canyon Imports works directly with artists—no wholesalers or middlemen—all the money goes straight to them. We currently offer a few styles but are excited to see new designs and look forward to creating a guide to traditional Wayuu patterns and their meanings.

Supporting the Wayuu: A Path Forward

The story of the Wayuu people is one of resilience, creativity, and an unbreakable connection to their land and traditions. Their crochet bags are more than just functional items or beautiful art—they are a source of pride, a symbol of identity, and a bridge between their past and future. Each bag tells a story of cultural heritage, survival, and the strength of a community that has endured centuries of challenges. By supporting the work of Wayuu artisans, we can help ensure their traditions continue to thrive in an ever-changing world. Together, we can celebrate and sustain this extraordinary culture, one stitch at a time.

Sources:

Most information for this post was collected from primary sources in La Guajira, particularly the Uriana clan outside of Uribia

ReVista: https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/natural-resource-extractivism-deepening-poverty-in-la-guajira/