Columbia Traditions
The country of Columbia found at the northern tip of South America, was first recognized in 1819. Within Columbia, there are five geographic regions; the Caribbean coast, pacific lowlands, Andes highlands, Orinoco Savanna and the Amazon Rainforest. The regional cultural traditions are mixed, with a broad assortment of distinct groups that have unique customs, accents, and social patterns.
Within the Caribbean region of Columbia, the predominant ethnic group is the Pardo, a mixture of European, indigenous, and afro-Columbian descent. The widest spread language in this area is Spanish, followed by the Wayuu language. The weather of this area involves a warm climate and a calm coast. The people of the Caribbean region are said to be spontaneous,
cheerful and love to dance. In this region, the musical rhythms are mainly influenced by African beats.
The pacific coast residents are mainly of afro-Columbian descent. Its coastal area is covered in jungle and mangrove swamp. This humid region has one of the heaviest rainfall climates in the world. Seafood dishes such as fish and shrimp are common delicacies here. The economy of this region is based on mining, fishing, cattle raising, timber and agriculture. The Andean region is the most densely populated of the regions. The homes of families living in this region are typically made from cement blocks, however in poor areas houses are usually made of scrap material. With the disappearance of drug cartels, many former participants find themselves unemployed, adding to the region’s high unemployment rates. A great deal of the population is engaged in agriculture and raising sheep, cattle, goats, llamas and alpacas. The most common language that will be found in this region is Quechua. The Orinoco Savanna is thinly populated, with the majority of settlements situating in the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera. This region commonly experiences rainfall and cool temperatures. The residents of this area commonly use the river as a transportation system. Within the Amazon rainforest, there are about 50,000 indigenous people dispersed in communities that stand near river crossings in the Amazon. The remaining population of the rainforest is comprised of settlers. Many of these communities prefer to live in villages where they present traditional activities and rituals to visitors, while some prefer to settle in areas that outsiders have difficulty accessing. Nearly all native groups in the region, cultivate crops, with hunting, gathering, and fishing serving as a secondary food source.
Within the Caribbean region of Columbia, the predominant ethnic group is the Pardo, a mixture of European, indigenous, and afro-Columbian descent. The widest spread language in this area is Spanish, followed by the Wayuu language. The weather of this area involves a warm climate and a calm coast. The people of the Caribbean region are said to be spontaneous,
cheerful and love to dance. In this region, the musical rhythms are mainly influenced by African beats.
The pacific coast residents are mainly of afro-Columbian descent. Its coastal area is covered in jungle and mangrove swamp. This humid region has one of the heaviest rainfall climates in the world. Seafood dishes such as fish and shrimp are common delicacies here. The economy of this region is based on mining, fishing, cattle raising, timber and agriculture. The Andean region is the most densely populated of the regions. The homes of families living in this region are typically made from cement blocks, however in poor areas houses are usually made of scrap material. With the disappearance of drug cartels, many former participants find themselves unemployed, adding to the region’s high unemployment rates. A great deal of the population is engaged in agriculture and raising sheep, cattle, goats, llamas and alpacas. The most common language that will be found in this region is Quechua. The Orinoco Savanna is thinly populated, with the majority of settlements situating in the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera. This region commonly experiences rainfall and cool temperatures. The residents of this area commonly use the river as a transportation system. Within the Amazon rainforest, there are about 50,000 indigenous people dispersed in communities that stand near river crossings in the Amazon. The remaining population of the rainforest is comprised of settlers. Many of these communities prefer to live in villages where they present traditional activities and rituals to visitors, while some prefer to settle in areas that outsiders have difficulty accessing. Nearly all native groups in the region, cultivate crops, with hunting, gathering, and fishing serving as a secondary food source.