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Jagua
Claudia Yaneth Ruiz Meléndez – COLOMBIA
Finalist

Story in original language [Spanish]:

Marta pertenece a la comunidad Emberá Katío del Alto Sinú en mi país, Colombia; comunidad fuertemente afectada por el desplazamiento forzado y la deforestación razón por la cual enfrenta una marcada pérdida de identidad. Marta forma parte de 210 familias que han decidido hacer parte de programas que contribuyen a reforestar su territorio y su cultura.

Según la leyenda, Jagua era una diosa poseedora de conocimientos sobre la vida y las plantas que surgió de la abundancia del fruto de un árbol que lleva su nombre y que hoy se considera sagrado. Jagua compartió con los Emberá su sabiduría y cómo transmitir y preservar su cosmogonía de manera simbólica a través de la pintura corporal utilizando un tinte resultado de un proceso al que se somete el fruto del árbol de Jagua.

Marta, así como las mujeres de su comunidad transmiten y mantienen su herencia cultural a través de la práctica de la jagua, entre otras. La mirada de su nieta Valentina, portadora inconsciente de memoria histórica, me hizo desear que cuando llegue a la edad adulta y como consecuencia de la reforestación, estén regresando al territorio los animales que su abuela representa en dibujos y que ella, orgullosa, sea también “Jagua” transmisora de sabiduría ancestral dándole forma a su comunidad.

Translated story:

Marta belongs to the Emberá Katío community of Alto Sinú in my country, Colombia, a community strongly affected by forced displacement and deforestation, which is why it faces a marked loss of identity. Marta is part of 210 families that have decided to take part in programmes that contribute to reforesting their territory and their culture.

According to legend, Jagua was a goddess possessing knowledge about life and plants that emerged from the abundance of the fruit of a tree that bears her name and which today is considered sacred. Jagua shared with the Emberá her wisdom and how to transmit and preserve her cosmogony in a symbolic way through body painting, using a dye that is extracted from the fruit of the Jagua tree.

Marta, as well as the women of her community, transmit and maintain their cultural heritage through the practice of the jagua, among others. The look of her granddaughter Valentina, unconscious bearer of historical memory, made me wish that, when she reaches adulthood, and as a consequence of the reforestation, the animals that her grandmother represents in drawings return to the territory, and that she feels proud to also become “Jagua”, a transmitter of ancestral wisdom, shaping her community.

Author Bio:

I am an industrial designer, plastic artist and photographer of Colombian nationality. 13 years ago I created, and currently direct, the Arts Collegium Foundation that uses photography as a tool for the development of creativity, creative thinking and positive action. We work with various rural communities, highlighting work with associations of women entrepreneurs.

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