A folk culture is defined as those products or practices of isolated small-scale social groups who are living in rural locations. When you say that a group is living in a folk culture, they are those associated with tradition, historical continuity, sense of place, and belonging. The people in the community usually manifest through song and dance, storytelling and mythology, vernacular designs in buildings, everyday artifacts and clothing, diet, habits, social rules and structures, work practices such as farming and craft production, religion, and worldview. Generally, they are termed as those who are untouched by the modern world. They are the ones who are still living out the traditional ways and are still practicing the rituals and beliefs that their forefathers have passed on to them. One of the examples of the community who are still living out the folk culture are the Wayuu, also called Wayu, Wayúu, Guajiro, Wahiro, an ethnic group. This is a Native American ethnic group who inhabits Guajira Peninsula in northern Colombia and northwest Venezuela. The language that the Wayuu are using is part of the Maipuran or Arawak language family.
Folk culture is really evident in the lives of the Wayuu people. You can see their traditional ways in the way they live. Take for instance, the Wayuu language which is called wayuunaiki is predominantly used in the different parts of the Caribbean. Although the young generation of this ethnic group already knows how to speak Spanish language fluently, they still value the importance of their traditional language. Just as what is said, folk culture involves the continuous practice of rituals, beliefs and traditions. One of the rituals is setting up of the obligations of the girls to seclude themselves and shave their heads when they start to menstruate. They should also rest in chinchorros which is a hammock hung near their houses. The girls will also be fed with Jaguapi which is a vegetarian diet and they should also bathe frequently. Wagyuu girls are also taught basic household chores which are sewing, cooking, etc. and at their young age taught wife and female issues like birth control and pregnancy.
In terms of their music, the Wayuu traditional music tells about their economic and social life. Take for instance, they sing to their cattle. They also incorporate their meetings and celebrations as well as their mourning in funerals with their own brand of music. They also have this Yonna which is their traditional dance to honor their guests. Another that they still practice is the ritual called Majayura. This is the ritual of the “young Wayuu virgin”. This ritual presents a female who dances towards the male for marriage. The other males perform rhythms with their traditional instruments until the male tumbles onto the ground.
We can all say that the Wayuu ethnic group is still living the folk culture. It is really evident that they still preserve the tradition and culture which are passed on to the present generation and which originated from their forefathers.
