Guahibo people

Guahibo

Total population
approx. 24,000
Regions with significant populations
Colombia	23,006 (2005 Census)Juncosa 2000, cited in SIL, "Guahibo", Ethnologue.
Venezuela	8,428 (2001 census)SIL, "Guahibo", Ethnologue.
Languages
Guahibo, Spanish
Religion
Christianity, Animism

The Guahibo people (also called Guajibo, or Sikuani, though the latter is regarded as derogatory) people are an indigenous people native to Llanos or savannah plains in eastern Colombia–Arauca, Meta, Guainia, and Vichada departments–and in southern Venezuela near the Colombian border.^[1] Their population is was estimated at 23,772 people in 1998.^[2]

Language

Guahibo (ISO 639: GUH)is related to the Arawakan language family of South America and is divided between the dialects of the Wüinpumuin (northeast region) and Wopumuin (southwest region) although the groups understand each other. The existing dialects are: Guahibo (Sikuani), Amorua (Río Tomo Guahibo) and Tigrero. They each have their own languages but many are lost, now replaced by Spanish. Despite 55% illiteracy, there is a written form of Guahibo. There is a Gauhibo newspaper, dictionary and grammar book.

See also

• Hiwi people

References

External links

• Guahibo artwork, National Museum of the American Indian

v t e Ethnic groups in Venezuela   Indigenous peoples Current indigenous Achagua Auaké Baniwa Guahibo Hiwi Ingarikó Kali'na Marueta Motilone Barí Pemon Piaroa Sanumá Warao Wayuu Yanomami Ye'kuana Extinct indigenous Caquetio Chitareros Cumanagoto Jirajara Mariche Otomacos Quiriquire Saladoid Timoto-cuicas   Immigration European German Italian Polish Portuguese Russian Spanish Swiss Ukrainian Others African Arab Lebanese Armenian Chinese Indian Japanese Jewish Turkish Uruguayan Category:Ethnic groups in Venezuela