Guahibo people

Guahibo
Total population
approx. 24,000
Regions with significant populations
 Colombia 23,006 (2005 Census)Juncosa 2000, cited in SIL, "Guahibo", Ethnologue.
 Venezuela 8,428 (2001 census)SIL, "Guahibo", Ethnologue.
Languages
Guahibo, Spanish
Religion
Christianity, Animism

The Guahibo people (also called Guajibo, or Sikuani, though the latter is regarded as derogatory) people are an indigenous people native to Llanos or savannah plains in eastern Colombia–Arauca, Meta, Guainia, and Vichada departments–and in southern Venezuela near the Colombian border.[1] Their population was estimated at 23,772 people in 1998.[2]

History

An 1856 watercolor by Manuel María Paz is an early depiction of the Guahibo people in Casanare Province.[3]

Language

Guahibo (ISO 639: GUH) is related to the Arawakan language family of South America and is divided between the dialects of the Wüinpumuin (northeast region) and Wopumuin (southwest region) although the groups understand each other. The existing dialects are: Guahibo (Sikuani), Amorua (Río Tomo Guahibo) and Tigrero. They each have their own languages but many are lost, now replaced by Spanish. Despite 55% illiteracy, there is a written form of Guahibo. There is a Gauhibo newspaper, dictionary and grammar book.

See also

References

  1. ↑ (Spanish) Ministerio Colombiano del Medio Ambiente: Guahibo
  2. ↑ ethnologue: Guahibo
  3. ↑ Paz, Manuel María. "Guahibo Indians, Province of Casanare". World Digital Library. Retrieved 2014-05-21.

External links

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