Abstract

GARCIA GAVIDIA, Nelly  and  VALBUENA, Carlos. When dreams change: The Wayuu culture meets the protestant (Evangelist) churches. Revista de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.43, pp.3-11. ISSN 1012-1587.

The impact evangelical churches have had upon the wayuu communities located along the coastal area in the Venezuelan Guajira is studied in this article. The main objectives are: a) to describe the changes that have taken place in their cosmic vision as to dreams, the practice of confinement of women when they come of age, and the second death-watch rituals, and b) to interpret the impact those changes have had upon the social life of the group. Ethnographic and comparative studies of the communities under analysis were used as the basic methodology. The conclusion is that radical changes have indeed occurred in those communities.

Keywords : Wayuu culture; dreams, rites; evangelical churches.