Achagua
Regions with significant populations
Colombia, Venezuela
Languages
Achagua
Religion
Traditional religion
Related ethnic groups
Guahibo, U'wa, and Other Arawakan-speaking peoples
Especially Baniwa, Tariana, and Tegua

The Achagua (also Achawa and Axagua) are an indigenous people of Colombia and Venezuela.[1] At the time of the Spanish colonization of the Americas, their territory covered the present-day Venezuelan states of Bolívar, Guárico and Barinas.[2] In the late twentieth century there were several hundred Achaguas remaining.[2]

Municipalities belonging to Achagua territories

Name Department Altitude (m)
urban centre		 Map
Támara
(shared with U'wa)		 Casanare 1156
Nunchía
(shared with U'wa)		 Casanare 398
Yopal Casanare 390
Aguazul
(shared with Tegua)		 Casanare 290
Tauramena Casanare 460
Recetor
(shared with Tegua)		 Casanare 800
Chámeza
(shared with Tegua)		 Casanare 1150
Paya Boyacá 970
Labranzagrande
(shared with U'wa & Guahibo)		 Boyacá 1210

Culture

Achagua people live in large villages. Clans live together in communal houses. Polygamy is commonplace. They farm crops, such as bitter cassava. They traditionally poison their arrows with curare.[1]

There is a small town in Apure called Achaguas.

Language

Achagua people speak the Achagua language, a Maipurean Arawakan language.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Achagua." Encyclopædia Britannica. (retrieved 1 December 2011)
  2. 1 2 James Stuart Olson (1991), The Indians of Central and South America: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary, Greenwood Publishing Group. p2
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