Editorial Photographer Colombia | Documentary Photos | Photojournalist Austria

The Kogi or Kogui people live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a mountain range on the caribbean coast of Colombia. They call themselves the “elder brothers” who are taking care of the “Heart of the World” (the Sierra Nevada) and protecting it from the “younger brothers” (non Kogi or Arhuaco indians) who are destroying it. They believe if the “Heart of the World” get's out of balance it will affect the whole world.

The Kogis are one of the very view indigenous people in South America who still live in their traditional ways like the used to do hundreds of years ago. Being a pacifistic tribe they never tried to fight the intruders and preferred to move to more isolated areas up the mountian, where they could continue to live their lives without too much influence from outside. Having survived the spanish colonizers, the colonials in the beginning of the century, the Marijuana bonanza of the 80s, the coca planting of the drug cartels and the armed conflict among guerillas and paramilitaries the Kogi maybe are facing their biggest fear now, the destruction of “Heart of the World” due climatic changes.

Two Kogi Mamos (spiritual leaders) in the Sierra Nevada, Colombia.

The Mamos are the spiritual guides of the Kogis. They are meditating, praying and and asked if important decisions have to me made.

76 year old Mamo, a spiritual guide of the Kogis.

The Comisario, the police officer, meditating with his poporo. Sierra Nevada, Colombia.

A reunion of Mamos where they mediated, pray and discussed. The Person standing in the background is the Comisario, who takes care that the Mamos don't get disturbed during theiy meeting.

A reunion of Mamos where they mediated, pray and discussed. The Person standing in the background is the Comisario, who takes care that the Mamos don't get disturbed during theiy meeting.

Kogi family in front of their house, with a coca plant, the most holy plant for them. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

The Kogis live a simple live and a hammock and gum boots are often the most luxury item the posses. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.

Kogi or Kogui man, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - Colombia.

Kogi or Kogui woman, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - Colombia.

The Koguis live in the Sierra Nevada of Colombia. Instead of fighting intruders from outside they backed out and moved further up the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Like this they could keep their traditions until today.