Wale'kerü, the spirit of a culture

The Wayúu artisan wealth has its origin in the secrets of weaving and its relationship with a feminine spirit. Celebrate with us international women’s month learning more about Wale'kerü! 

An amazing story born in the middle of color, threads and sunrises of the Colombian Guajira. It’s the story of the Wale'kerü spider, that along with grandmothers, mothers and aunts, teaches the young Wayúu girls, the secrets of weaving and the meaning of being a Wayúu woman.

The history of Wale'kerü is marked by love. She was an orphan picked up by a man whose sisters and aunts were single and never had children. He found the girl shepherding alone and took her home. Despite his kindness, the family never accepted her, so she would weave while everyone else slept to thank the person who saved her.

She fell in love with this man. The leyend says that one day his mother told her: "Take this material and weave some strips" but Wale'kerü ate all the cotton.

Guided by the spirit of the spider, from her mouth came the thread already twisted and prepared. She wove at night and by dawn, she already had a sash made.

The dawn of La Guajira was then, adorned with sashes and hammocks Wale'kerü wove during that magical night. When the Wayúu asked her how she had made them, she explained what happened.

Everybody wanted to learn this new technique, and she said: "I'll teach you how to weave if you give me a donkey or a goat in return." but the Wayúu gave her clothes and necklaces.

One day, Wale'kerü saw that Wayúu women could not define the shapes and drawings of their fabrics. So, she began to make a path with each drawing and thus, the whole town learned.

She taught the young women who remained in confinement, asking them for their full attention. She also forbade them to look around and get distracted. Wale'kerü constantly reminded them:“I won't be able to teach you forever”. Finally, the Wayúu women learned from the spirit of the spider, and she watched them attentively at her loom.

Wale'kerü and its story is definetively a beautiful myth. Nowadays, the Wayuu women have evolved from waving bags to making bracelet, shoes, and many more amazing handmade products that keep this tradition alive and so increasingly desired in the international market.