Güijes Explained

Güijes (also known as Jigües o Chichiricúes) are mythical creatures in Cuban folklore that live in bodies of fresh water.^[1] Although their physical description varies between sources, they are often depicted as short-statured, black skinned hominids. Some depictions resemble stereotypical African pygmies, while others resemble monstruous, hairy beasts. They are often naked, or scantly clad in leaves.

Güijes are characterized as mischievous and malicious,^[2] or occasionally playful and fun-loving.^[3] They can be summoned in many ways including by offering a cigar,^[4] circling a holy cieba 12 times at midnight, or by an intentional group of 7 men named Juan (siete Juanes).^{[5] [6]}

Cultural references

As stock characters in Cuban folklore, references to güijes can be found throughout Cuban music, film, literature, and art. Some famous references include:

• El Güije by Silvio Rodriguez, song
• A recurring character on El Camino de los Juglares, a Cuban children's show
• El Güije original animation by Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos (ICAC)^[7]
• Referenced in 'Viva Cuba', film by Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti
• Book: Nūñez, Julia Calzadilla . Los Chichiricú del charco de la Jícara . Ediciones Colihue SRL . 1993 . 950-581-556-5 . es.
• "Balada del Güije" poem in the 1934 anthology "West Indies Ltd." by Nicolás Guillén

Notes and References

1. GUANCHE PÉREZ . JESÚS . 1994 . Etnicidad cubana y seres míticos populares . Oralidad . 4 . 55–66.
2. Web site: Calvo . Maria . 2022-06-02 . El Güije de la Bajada, una leyenda remediana . Radio Habana Cuba.
3. Web site: 26 March 2012 . MITOLOGIA POPULAR CUBANA . 13 May 2024 . 26 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100326160755/http://hispanidadymestizaje.es/mitpop.htm . dead .
4. Web site: "Bestiario Cubano". A project by Juan Darién . 2024-05-13 . Domestika . en.
5. Web site: 2018-12-21 . El güije de Remedios . 2024-05-13 . Directorio Cubano . es.
6. Web site: Provincial . Equipo de Producción . Portal del Ciudadano Nuestro Remedios - El Güije de la Bajada . 2024-05-14 . www.nuestroremedios.gob.cu . es-es.
7. Web site: El Güije, un personaje travieso de la tradición oral cubana . 2024-05-13 . CiberCuba . es.