This is the Mamo of the Wiwa, he is basically the king. He is giving Kerri bracelets for our nieces, and a bag for Matt.
![image[2]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image2-1.png "image[2]")
And two little bags his daughters (the princesses) made for the girls that are supposed to hold hopes and dreams but also happen to be Barbie-sized.
He is the only person we have ever met who’s picture is on money.
![image[8]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image8.png "image[8]")
He is the only person that is allowed to live in Teyuna in this little house he built on one of the old foundations
Other people live in this little village we passed along the way, but only when they are passing through for ceremonies
![image[11]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image11-1.png "image[11]")
Most of the time these buildings are empty
![image[14]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image14-1.png "image[14]")
The roofs are made of palm leaves
They use gourds for coca. The white on top is a mixture of lime, coca and spit that builds up over time and they shape it decoratively.
![image[23]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image23-1.png "image[23]")
The bags are made from cactus
First you have to scrape all the goo off of the cactus
Which was hard work and no one wanted to help Kerri
After the goo is scraped off the cactus fibres are left
Which they dry out and dye pretty colours with leaves
![image[5]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image5-1.png "image[5]")
And then they use the threads to make the bags.
![image[20]](https://www.kerrimatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/image20-1.png "image[20]")
I read the Wikipedia article on the Wiwa people, and another article, to see if this Mamo is really their king. I’m not convinced that he is (or at least not for the whole 18,000 people), but it was very interesting reading. The Wiwa make lime (calcium hydroxide) out of seashells to enhance the experience of coca leaves, which is the same thing people do half a world away to enhance the experience of chewing betel nut. I wouldn’t recommend these ancient, time-tested techniques, though. They both destroy your teeth and cause oral cancer.
Yeah, that’s how our guide introduced him to us. I also read the Wikipedia article, but I decided that I wanted the girl’s barbie bags to be princess-made, so I stuck with that story.
I am also leaving the part about enhancing the experience of the coca leaves out of the story for the six year old…