Wayuu Tribe

The youngest daughter inherits property, as she is the nearest to life. The eldest daughter, being the closest to death, is responsible for funeraryrituals. The Wayuu have two burials: The first is immediately after death and a second occurs five to 10 years later. For this, the daughter undergoes ayear-long purification before disinterring and cleaning the bones for the second entombment.

At puberty, only females have a rite of passage. Thisentails over a year of isolation from the community, during which time she learns the customs of being a woman, songs and dances, and weaving. Because ofmodern-day demands of school attendance, this ritual now is done in two or three months. Only in isolated rancherías (shanty towns) is the longer term stillused.
The most important male figure to a child is the eldest maternal uncle. It is he who disciplines. When a potential fiancé asks for a Wayuuwoman’s hand in marriage, he must go to the uncle, who sets the bride-price. If the husband seeks a divorce, the woman keeps the dowry; if the wife, then shemust return half the bequest.
The Wayuu way of dispute resolution, applied by Pütchipü’üi (orators), was recognized in 2010 by UNESCO as an IntangibleCultural Heritage of Humanity. Dance, or yonna, is performed only for rituals. Recreational dancing, as at discotheques, is not a part of Wayuu culture.
Tolearn more about Wayuu culture and society (in Spanish), visit: URL: hospitalnazareth.com/cultura_wayuu/estructura_social/estructura_social.html.