Discovering the Kuna People In Panama
Tuesday, August 25, 2009 19:11
Panama is a widely diverse and culturally significant country, together with a population that has been shaped by ancient and modern influences. One of the indigenous people of the region is that of the Kuna people, who enjoy protection within their own governed states or provinces within Panama. The Kuna tribe is estimated to be about 35,000 strong and predominantly located across the San Blas Islands in the Caribbean. The tribe speaks a language known as tule, and a vast majority of the people are fluent in Spanish, representing their second language, and obviously a quite predominant language in the region.
The Kuna people live in thatched huts and their traditional diet contains fish, plantains, rice and coconut. All across the San Blas Islands, the women of the tribe are specifically well known for their molas, which are colourful shirts made by appliqué upon material, normally depicting a part of their lives. The way these molas are made is by making identical panels for the front and back of the shirt, with separate, and normally quite bright materials used for the sleeves, all sewn together to make the molas. To complete their colourful attire is the inclusion of gold jewellery worn as nose rings, as well as bands around the arms and legs.
The Kuna are a peaceful people and should you be in the region it is well worth the effort to visit these people who have also come to embrace the tourism industry in Panama.
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