This is just one of the most representative cultural artifacts that represents the south of the Colombian Pacific.

This instrument is also called "The jungle piano" (El Piano de la selva)

For the Kogui, these masks have a deep symbolic meaning because they often represent spirits, ancestors, or forces of nature. Masks are used in ritual dances, where the participants connect with the spiritual world. Moreover some of these masks are seen as creatures sent by gods and they help to maintain the balance in the world and prevent natural disasters.

The Indigenous Guard's staff, or "chonta," is a symbol of authority, spirituality, and connection to nature. It represents their peaceful defense of land and culture.

Fabio Rivera

This ritual was, for example, used by warriors to obtain strength or by "cargueros" to obtain endurance for their long journeys.

• Camila Jiménez

The cuatro llanero is a stringed musical instrument that belongs to the culture of the Llanos Orientales, a vast region in eastern Colombia

• Materials: It is typically made from local woods such as cedar, pine, or saman. Traditionally, the strings were made from animal gut, but today, nylon strings are commonly used.

- Llanero Music: The cuatro is fundamental in Llanero music, a genre that includes styles such as joropo, pasaje, and tonada. These styles are played with a mix of instruments, but the cuatro llanero is essential for setting the rhythm and harmony.

Beyond being a musical instrument, the cuatro llanero symbolizes life in the Llanos. It reflects the Llanero's connection with their environment: the vast savannas, cattle herding, and rural life. Its music evokes the free spirit and resilience of the people of the Llanos.

- Oral Tradition: Playing the cuatro llanero is also part of an oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. Young people learn from their elders, keeping alive the melodies and rhythms that are integral to their cultural identity.

Representation of Otherness

The cuatro llanero represents a form of "otherness" in that it embodies the unique cultural identity of the Llaneros, distinguishing them from other Colombian regions and cultures. This instrument, and the music it produces, expresses the distinctiveness of the Llanero way of life, which is often perceived as different or “other” by those from urban or Andean regions of Colombia.

The music of the Llanos, carried by the sound of the cuatro llanero, is an expression of the vast, open landscapes and the lifestyle that revolves around them and the rural countryside. The rhythms and melodies are deeply tied to the daily life and the environment of the Llaneros, making their culture unique and, at times, exotic to those unfamiliar with it.

- The Llaneros, through their music and the cuatro llanero, express a cultural identity that stands apart from the dominant cultural narratives of Colombia, which are often centered on the Andean or coastal regions. The cuatro llanero, therefore, becomes a symbol of this cultural "otherness," highlighting the diversity within the nation.

This artifact expresses otherness by celebrating rural identity, language and the way people unite, regardless of their origin or social status. It represents the rich cultural heritage, community identity and daily life of the inhabitants of Huila, preserving their traditions and reinforcing regional pride.

Taken from: https://diariodelhuila.com/el-rajalena-el-canto-del-alma/

-Paula Santos-

The ceramic pieces are handmade with black or yellow clay, using traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation. They are decorative and utilitarian pieces such as plates and other kitchen utensils, as well as dolls, carts, cribs, the famous chiva and the statues of San Augustin.

There are entire families that are dedicated to the creation of ceramics and their work is a legacy of Pitalito that is represented in the National Craft Fair that takes place every year in the city.

These artifacts represents otherness expressing local identity and the preservation of Ancestral knowledge who are also a representation of symbolic and manual valued meaning in the community.

info: Las artesanías de Colombia en festival de Pitalito, Huila (radionacional.co)

---Angela Cordoba---

The Sun God was venerated in festivals such as Inti Raimy, which is celebrated until nowadays. The harvest, food and nature were one. Likewise, the moon, the monkey, the iguana, the chettah, among others were gods.

Diego Manuel Guerrero

For the people of Palenque, this festival is really important because it celebrates their African roots and history. During the festival, they play traditional drums and dance to the rhythms that have been part of their culture for a long time. It’s a way for them to remember their ancestors and show to the world their unique culture and also it helps keep their traditions alive and lets everyone know how proud they are of their heritage.

This artifact shows otherness by expressing the special culture of the people from this town. During the festival, they play special drums and dance in ways that are different from other Colombian traditions. It’s a way for them to be proud of who they are and show how unique their culture is.

-Diana Galeano-

This instrument is also called "The jungle piano" (El Piano de la selva). It is played on differents ocassions where it performs social or religious functions. Some masters guarantee that whoever has learned to play La Marimba through family tradition will be able to dominate the spirits of the tropical forest, because their heart is aligned with the memory of their lineage and is in tune with the sounds of the tropical forest.

The traditional music of the Colombian Pacific still keeps a really strong relationship with its African ancestors and demonstrates it through this instrument.

Cite: Marimba del Pacífico nariñense, preservar la cultura (radionacional.

--- Isabella Tafurt ---

Tampalkuari: Is their traditional hat mainly made by the men, but there are some women who also make them. It represents their territory, the family.

Anaco: It is a skirt made and used by women in the community. It represents the Misak territory in Guambía where they are settled.

Reboso: It is a characteristic element of a woman's clothing. It is worn over her torso and is fastened at the front by means of a metal hook. Men use it as a skirt. It means equality and the complement that occurs in marriage. Two cloth cloaks are usually used, one red and one blue, the latter over the first. Blue represents the water, the lakes, the rivers and the sky. Red represents the blood spilled by the ancestors when recovering the land in the Cauca department.

Ruana: The ruana is made by women, and is used by men and children on the torso. It is composed of two

fabrics that are joined at the top by means of a seam that leaves an opening for the head. It represents the harmony of the Misak being, the territory, the mother earth, the unity of the community and purity depending on the color of the ruana.

chumbé: It is used as a belt that holds the woman's anaco and also holds the baby when it is carried on the back. It represents nature and the rainbow

chokers: White represents the joy, the marriage.

Taken from:

• https://hdl.handle.net/10893/18467

• https://www.facebook.com/CanalCapitalOficial/videos/el-significado-del-atuendo-de-los-misak-misak/310117729833410/

-Carol Jimeno-

Main ingredients: Cholado is made with a base of shaved ice topped with a mix of tropical fruits such as pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, apple, and strawberries. It is garnished with condensed milk, flavored syrups (strawberry, passion fruit, etc.), and often crowned with colorful gummies and a cherry. Sometimes, it also includes whipped cream or caramel for an extra touch of sweetness.

History: Its origins trace back to street vendors in Valle del Cauca, who began making this drink to offer something fresh and appealing on hot days. Over the years, cholado has become a symbol of Cali culture and a tradition at local events and fairs. The combination of ingredients and the creative touch of its vendors make the Cholado Valluno a true emblem of the region. It is so special in this region, that there is a park in Jamundí called "El Parque de los Cholados" where people can enjoy a great deal of Cholado Valluno types.

Daniel Cruz

Lina Sofia Ruiz

These statues are part of the Archaeological Park of San Agustín, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. They are representations of human and animal figures, sculpted in stone, created by the pre-Columbian culture of San Augustin, who inhabited the region between the I-VIII centuries AD. Also, the San Agustín Archaeological Park is an important tourist destination in Colombia, and offers guided tours and excursions of several days in the region.

Research on the statues of Saint Augustin has been carried out by different archaeologists and anthropologists over the years. Among the most prominent are Konrad Preuss, who studied the site in 1914, and José Pérez de Barradas, who excavated the region in 1937.