Despite living in the depths of the mountains and dense forests, this remarkable tribe astonishes the world with their ability to know everything that has happened and is currently happening across the Earth.
Originating from the Tairona civilization, the Kogi people reside in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Colombia, a place shrouded in mist and largely unvisited by outsiders.
However, the people here are very wise about everything. The Kogi tribe asserts that: “Our ancestors appeared on this earth a long time ago, much earlier than the ancestors of humanity in the outside world. We know well what happened in the past and are certain of what will happen to this Earth.”
They isolate themselves from the outside world, particularly avoiding relationships and communication with individuals from modern society. In very rare cases, members of the tribe only interact with a few neighboring tribes that also inhabit the same mountain range.
According to surveys by some scientists, this tribe dates back approximately 7,000 to 8,000 years. In fact, the Kogi people are believed to predate the civilizations of the Incas and Mayans in South America.
The Kogi have a relatively small stature, dark skin, and naturally curly hair that they wear long, both men and women. Another notable aspect is that everyone in the tribe wears the same clothing. They live in small houses made of wood and leaves, which are very cool and clean.
All members of the Kogi tribe are vegetarians; no one eats meat, fish, or any animals, including insects. Their main food consists of flowers, roots, fruits, and leaves. This has been a natural habit for the people here, free from any constraints. They believe that their dietary choices reflect the kindness of their souls.
The Kogi people hold that: “The Earth is home to all living beings, so why do humans shoot, kill, and eat other species? All creatures feel pain; why eat ‘what is suffering’?”
No scientific methods or chemicals are applied or used here. The Kogi cultivate in a very simple and rudimentary manner, and notably, they never store food.
They believe that hoarding leads to selfishness and greed, unintentionally creating a desire to possess more, which can instigate seizing and ignite wars of mutual slaughter. Furthermore, excess disrupts the order of nature and causes unpredictable changes.
Thanks to their harmony with nature, a tranquil and free lifestyle, the people here have an exceptionally high life expectancy, averaging around 100 years. They almost never get sick, are very healthy, and not a single person suffers from cavities.
According to Kogi beliefs: “If one lives in accordance with nature, then one cannot be sick; illnesses are merely the result of actions contrary to nature. Additionally, the relationship between humans and nature is extremely close; when nature is harmed, humans will certainly be affected, leading to various strange diseases.”
The Kogi do not worship any deities, nor do they engage in any spiritual or religious activities. Instead, all young people in the tribe must undergo a nine-year meditation training course to be considered adults.
They sit facing the rock walls to explore and reflect on the connection, interaction, and harmony of heaven and earth, humans, and nature. The oldest person in the village (the Elder) is tasked with passing down experiences and knowledge to the younger generations about what is referred to as the secrets of the universe. They are also taught about their own consciousness very thoroughly.
Every morning, the Elders of the village dedicate a significant amount of time to meditation, which they call “connecting with the consciousness of the universe.” Through this connection, they can know many things happening all over the world, even without leaving the mountain peak.
To improve themselves, the Kogi often use a small stick to poke into a wooden mortar containing lime until it dissolves into powder, which they occasionally dab on their tongues to remind themselves to sharpen their minds and bodies, understanding how to live correctly and fully. This helps them become aware of many of the wonders of themselves and the universe.
Unlike most societies in the modern world, the Kogi prioritize living in absolute harmony with their environment. Guided by their rich spirit, the Kogi believe that their mission as the elder siblings is to protect the Earth and the delicate balance of nature from the destructive powers of their younger siblings. The Kogi assert that those younger siblings live distanced from nature and the heart of the Earth, hence are unaware of their obligation to care for nature.
The Kogi often oppose the presence of tourists in their territory. However, in the late 1980s, the Kogi witnessed negative signs affecting the local landscape and ecosystem due to industrial destruction. They became so concerned that they allowed outsiders into their territory for the first time to convey their message.
Accordingly, filmmaker Alan Ereira was welcomed into this special land to spread the important message of the Kogi to the outside world, which was first broadcast on international television in 1990 and continues to be aired worldwide to this day.
Kogi children. (Photo: WordPress).
By allowing access not only to their lands but also to profound insights into their culture, spirituality, and beliefs, the Kogi people have shown the world the seriousness of their message: the destruction of the Earth through unsustainable lifestyles, alongside the plundering of its resources—such as through fossil fuel industries, mining, and logging—must be addressed before it leads to complete ecological collapse.
This documentary received global acclaim, but its messages had little impact. After two decades, the Kogi saw no reduction in resource exploitation, and the effects on the ecosystem continued to worsen. Consequently, the Kogi reached out again to director Alan Ereira to produce a second documentary released in 2012.
The Kogi strive to explain the impact of destruction on biodiversity and ecosystems, citing symptoms of climate change that are being reflected worldwide, such as extreme weather, exponentially decreasing ice and snow, changing water cycles, and wildfires emerging due to rainfall in Sierra dropping by two-thirds in just 40 years.
Considering their isolated position and limited contact with the outside world, it is remarkable that the Kogi possess an innate understanding of the functioning of global ecosystems and humanity’s overall impact on the Earth.
