the shoe story

the Kuna Indians

The art of the molas, practiced by the women of the Kuna Indian culture,
reflects their people’s artistic visions and love for Mother Earth.

According to Kuna oral history, the mola comes from"Galu Metesorgit", a sacred place located
in one of the dimensions of Mother Earth "Nabguana", invisible to ordinary beings, and which is shaped like the base of an earthen jar.

A great visionary "nele" called Kikadiryai brought the mola from this place, and it was later perfected
by another nele called Naguegiryai who visited "Galu Dugbis", the place where the Kuna arts originate, and where the leader is the firefly.



Kuna women practice this traditional art as they listen to the chants of the spiritual community guides "Sailagan" in the house of Ibeorgun (kuna prophet), in their spare time, or while they await under coconut palms, the return of their husbands who have gone to tend the food crops, fish or hunt. Kuna culture is filled with dance, song, divination, healing, art, and storytelling.

The most traditional molas are geometric in design, stylized images of plants and animals,
or the traditions contained in the oral literature of the Kuna nation.

The Kuna Indians of Panama and Colombia still keep alive their ancient spiritual teachings, including unity "guamakale", brother and sisterhood "guenatiguale", solidarity and the love and defence of Mother Earth.


These designs are reproduced time and again in order to preserve the collective memory of the Kuna people.