Molas

Intricate Designs from the Kuna people of Panama

Where are Molas made?

The Kuna people live in all areas of

Panama, but most live on small islands

off the cost of the Kuna Yala, known as

the San Blas Islands.

Who are the Kuna People?

The Kuna are animists: They believe that the poni, groups of

malevolent spirits roam the earth entering peoples bodies

causing sickness and disease. The use the nuchus, small

dolls carved out of balsa wood, to protect themselves from

the poni.

The Kuna have the most advanced political system of any

tribal group in Latin America. They have three chiefs who

manage village politics and a series of meetings called

congresos.

The Kuna have a matriarch society- belongings and property

are always handed down from mother to daughter, and

women are seen as very important in the community.

What is a Mola?

The mola forms part of the traditional costume of a Kuna

woman, two mola panels being incorporated as front and back

panels in a blouse.

In Dulegaya, the Kuna's native language, "mola" means "shirt"

or "clothing". The mola originated with the tradition of Kuna

women painting their bodies with geometric designs, using

available natural colours; in later years these same designs

were woven in cotton, and later still, sewn using cloth bought

from the European settlers of Panamá.

What is Symmetry?

Symmetry: Symmetry is when a shape

is the same if you flip, slide or turn it.

If you put an invisible line through the

center of an object and both sides match,

this is called a line of symmetry.

Which Mola is Symmetrical?

Which Mola is Symmetrical?

Which Mola is Symmetrical?

Making a Paper Mola Collage

Step 1: Draw your main shape on a piece of paper that is folded in half.

Step 2: Cut your shape from the folded piece of paper. Unfold.

Step 3: Glue your shape in the center of another piece of paper.

Step 4: Cut around the shape leaving a “halo” of the new color.

Step 5: Glue this shape onto the center of another piece of paper.

Cut out shapes from your scraps of folded paper to fill the background.

Step 6: Glue shapes, in a symmetrical placement, to the background!

Step 7: Trace shapes inside of your first piece of paper

onto another piece of paper folded in half.

Step 8: Cut out these shapes and add them to your Mola!

Step 9: Use your scrap pieces to add more details.

(Keep each piece of paper folded in half to make two copies! )