This photo is of a Kuna Yala woman, a resident of Carti Island, in traditional clothing. The colorful part right above her skirt is a mola, which means ‘shirt’ or ‘clothing’ in Dulegaya, the language spoken by the Kuna. The ring in the woman’s nose is called an olasu. The arm beads are known as wini.
Did You Know That…
…Molas, many of which contain geometric patterns, were originally body paintings?
It’s true. It was only after colonization by the Spanish that the Kuna started to create the designs on fabric.
While there in Carti, I saw many molas of flowers, trees, birds, crabs and other animals. They were gorgeous and I enjoyed checking out the various styles. Although many seemed similar, I saw plenty of unique ones, some with vibrant oranges and blues.
What Inspired the Photo
The colors were just too good to pass up; same with the expression on her face. I’d just arrived on the island after a long day of travel and was experiencing and enjoying a bit of culture shock. No doubt she was part of it.
Truth be told–she was a real character and a keen businesswoman. She charged me for the photo and I paid it. While I tend not to do this (I often try to buy something instead), I didn’t mind in this case. She had a unique look and I wanted to remember it and her.
Photographic Details
Camera: Olympus XZ-1
F stop: 2.2
Shutter: 1/250 second
ISO: 100
Filter: None
Your Thoughts/Reactions?
Have you ever visited the San Blas islands of Panama? If so, what did you think? Did you have a chance to interact with any of the Kuna?
I enjoyed meeting these unique indigenous folks even though communication was challenging. Sometimes I got lucky and was able to use Spanish with them; other times, I wasn’t able to and tried to use phrases from my travel guide. This was, as you can imagine, a bit amusing.
How do you feel about paying people for photos? Does it seem fair in that they need a way to earn a living and this is an easy way to do it? Or do you think that it’s wrong on some level? I recall paying her $1.
I also spent money on the molas (not hers but someone else’s); prices were excellent on the island (versus the mainland where they were triple the price.) I bought several as gifts and a few for myself and I’m glad I did. Whenever I look at them on the walls in my apartment, I smile. They bring back some nice memories.
Can’t Get Enough?
Want to see more photos from around the world? Here are the other ‘photos of the day‘ (people, places and things) from several continents. Here are additional posts from Panama and other photos and stories about locals I’ve met while traveling.
Enjoy!
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