Kogi - Orientation
Identification. The self-name "Kogi" means "jaguar"—the Kogi trace their origin to mythical jaguar beings. The term "Kágaba" means "people," whereas "Pebo" means "friend."
Location. The Kogi live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, in northern Colombia, inhabiting mainly the northern slopes of the valleys of the Palomino, San Miguel, and Garavito rivers, with a few settlements on the eastern and western slopes. They practice agricultural transhumance on these slopes, which range from about 500 to about 2,500 meters in elevation.
Demography. Exact demographic figures are unavailable; in 1988 the Kogi population was estimated at about 4,000.
Linguistic Affiliation. The Kogi language, together with those of their immediate neighbors, the Ika and Sanha, belongs to a subgroup of the Chibchan Family.