Kogi in Colombia

The Kogi have only been reported in Colombia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta of Colombia there lives a group of people named Kogi, existing somewhat closely to the way they did before Christopher Columbus arrived in the hemisphere. Their name means "jaguar" in their language. When Caribs invaded around 1000, they fled to the mountains. Their location there led to the retention of their way of life but also preserved them from the Spanish invasion.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kogi create their own clothing from plant to finished product. Nearly everyone wears these white clothes. They live in round huts made with stone, mud, and palm leaves. Kogi men and women all carry traditional bags, made by the women, across their shoulders.
They cultivate sugar and coffee to sell. The sugar is made into a hardened brown substance.
There is a meeting hut exclusively for the men where community decisions are made. Mamas or priests are very important to the decision-making process.
Kogi women are seldom mistreated and are valued as being very connected to Mother Earth. When two men meet, they exchange handfuls of coca leaves.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Aluna or "The Great Mother" is their deity. She is the earth who is alive. A nearby mountain is known as "The Heart of the World" and the Kogi are the "Elder Brothers" who care for it. They see nature as needing protection and oppose the mistreatment of it.
Mamas are village priests who undergo strict training. Selected male children train in a dark cave for the first nine years of their lives. Mamas and the child's mother care for these young priests inside the cave until they are ready to begin their practice in the society. It is believed that the mama can hear the words of their god to pass along to the tribe.
The Kogi believe in complementary opposites. Even wrong doing is necessary as the complement to right.
After death a soul is considered to be on a journey for nine days and nights, after which it returns to an existence alongside the living Kogi.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kogi people need the spiritual hunger it will take to embrace the empty grave and follow Christ will all their hearts.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive them to the only savior.
Pray for a Disciple Making Movement to spread far and wide in Colombia.


Scripture Prayers for the Kogi in Colombia.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kogi_people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kogi
People Name in Country Kogi
Pronunciation KOH-ghee
Alternate Names Cogui; Kogui
Population this Country 21,000
Population all Countries 21,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11402
ROP3 Code 102256
Country Colombia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 34  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country La Guajira and Magdalena departments: north, east, and west slopes of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Colombia
Region America, Latin
Continent South America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 34  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country La Guajira and Magdalena departments: north, east, and west slopes of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Kogi in Colombia
Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 1.60 %)
1.60 %
Ethnic Religions
98.40 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Kogi (21,000 speakers)
Language Code kog   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Kogi (21,000 speakers)
Language Code kog   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Kogi
Photo Source Uhkabu - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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