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What are guacamayas and why you need some photo by mapalearteamano (via Instagram)

What are guacamayas and why you need some

by : Nicole Brown posted :

A tour of Colombia has no shortage of vibrant, exciting culture and a handicraft that matches this vibrancy and turns it into a take-home creation is the guacamaya.

Guacamayas are colorful rainbow vases, bowls and plates created by the indigenous U'wa tribes utilizing ancient coil-building techniques. Take a look below to learn more about this ancient practice and why these gems are a necessity to bring back for your friends and family.

Making guacamayas

Aside from sharing the same name with the town in Boyacá where these gorgeous spiral baskets are made, these handicrafts also share the same name with a popular local macaw that is just as stunning. Perhaps, it was these birds that inspired the rainbow hues throughout these beautiful pieces.

So how are they made? Like all ancient coil basket weaving practices, the U'wa people start off by gathering leaves from a palm tree as well as fique, a natural fibre more widely known as cabuya. Once gathered, the leaves are bundled into tiny bushels that are held by the crafter's hand. After the bushel is in place, the artisan takes fique fiber and binds the bundle tightly with the threads until a flat spiral appears. The crafter then continues adding more leaves and fique as she continues to create the desired form.

But what about all those beautiful rainbow colors? The crafters dye their fique fibers to get the sunny yellows, shocking oranges and mellow purples to complete their pieces. The dye process involves using natural pigments, like berries, and boiling the fibers with the dye until the desired color is achieved.

Today, the U'wa tribes create many objects using this ancient basket weaving technique and these crafters offer traditional baskets, bowls, place mats, wine holders and more for sale. These cherished gifts are also getting attention from the luxury interior design industry with artists like Sergio Vergara finding ways to meld the ancient with the modern to help complete any fashionable home decor.

A picture of Berito, a clan leader of the U'wa people photo by Carwil (via Creative Commons)
A picture of Berito, a clan leader of the U'wa people

U'wa people

The indigenous tribes that create these coveted guacamayas are the U'wa people. Today, there are eight surviving clans of the U'wa tribes scattered along the Venezuelan/Colombian border. And to this day, they continue to teach their ancient practices including language and art to their younger generations.

Guacamayas have long been a staple in the U'wa people culture with the practice being passed down from mothers to daughters. In the old days, baskets made with the spiral method were used for food gathering, special rituals and ceremonies. Today, many tribes including the U'wa people still use these baskets and bowls for this purpose.

Where to buy

Guacamayas are one of the most popular souvenir items to take home from Colombia and many vendors in Bogota sell these beautiful artesanal crafts. So make sure to reach out to your expert Colombia tour guide and he or she will take you to authentic vendors where you'll be able to take a piece of history home with you from these one-of-a-kind crafters.

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