por The most common urban tribes in Colombia They include metalheads, punks, rappers, skinheads, rude, hipsters, among others. Some of these tribes are seen less frequently, while there are others whose popularity is increasing, depending on the technological trends and fashions of the moment.
The term «urban tribe» was first coined by the French sociologist Michel Maffesoli in 1988, as a way of defining those small groups of young people who live in cities and share common interests. These interests are usually different from those of the rest of the individuals in society.
In Colombia, these urban groups are made up mainly of adolescents or young people who share habits and tastes. They differ from other social groups thanks to their striking clothing that is consistent with some new fashions or trends in the country.
The most common urban tribes in Colombia
1. Metalheads
The tribe of metalheads in Colombia is made up mainly of young people from the middle and upper classes. However, it is not a uniform subculture, rather it brings together various styles, beliefs, trends and musical styles.
Even between different «gangs», groups or bands, they can accuse each other of false metalheads for having different tastes, beliefs or customs. However, there is no one thing that defines exactly how a metalhead has to be. What defines him the most is his taste for metal music, characteristic clothing and some hairstyles.
For example, in the metalheads, followers of black metal are more extremists, almost atheists and anti-Christians. On the contrary, there are followers of white metal, in which its members may have religious beliefs, although it is not common.
Although some groups can be problematic, the character of the typical metalhead is usually lighthearted and likes to enjoy music, going to concerts and doing the traditional metalhead or headbanger movement.
2. Rappers
Rappers are an urban tribe that is characterized by listening to rap and hip-hop. This tribe was born in New York in the 70s, and over time it has expanded. Today we can find rappers all over the world.
Being a movement born in the poorest neighborhoods of large cities, its ideology is focused on spreading a social message, which criticizes the injustices of the system.
For this reason, many rappers are considered social chroniclers, since events of social importance are recorded through their music.
In Colombia, rappers can be identified by wearing baggy sweatshirts, oversized T-shirts (from North American sports teams), and flashy sneakers from well-known brands. Usually, they are responsible for the street graffiti pints in the cities.
This urban tribe has been one of the few that over time has remained in force in Colombia, gaining more and more followers.
3. Punketos
As their name implies, the punketos in Colombia are an urban tribe that share a common taste for punk music.
Its origin dates back to the 80s and its aesthetics can be seen clearly represented in Colombian films, such as Rodrigo D not future (1991) or The nobody (2016).
His style is characterized as scruffy and even unkempt. They usually wear black clothes and sometimes leather pants or ripped jeans.
Ideologically, they defend anarchism, which promotes individual development and the disappearance of the State.
4. Rude
The rude boys, or rude, are a group of young people who share a common taste for ska and reggae music.
Its ideological principles include the rejection of capitalism and the oligarchy. They are also defenders of equality and the union of races. They are anti-bullfighting and defend animal rights.
In Colombia, the rude are defined as the dissatisfied, those who reject consumerism and institutions. For this reason, multiple acts of vandalism and even violence against other social groups are attributed to them.
5. Skinheads
The skinheads, or bald, are an urban tribe made up of young people recognized mainly for having shaved heads, wearing military-style clothing and for their taste in punk and oi music.
They are a group strongly linked to the neo-Nazi movements, since they share a similar ideology of cleansing the race. In that sense, they are an urban tribe with opposite ideas to the punks and the rude.
They can be homophobic, racist and fascist. However, there are groups of peaceful skinheads that do not show any type of violent behavior.
In Colombia they are known for consuming copious amounts of beer, hanging out in large groups, worshiping neo-Nazi icons, and always being ready to start a brawl against another group.
6. Hipsters
Hipsters are an urban tribe that can be seen all over the world. They sport a vintage look, made up of skinny jeans, colorfully patterned T-shirts, and statement accessories with a retro look.
Their ideology is to defend nature and take care of the environment. For this reason, they often promote environmental causes, consume organic and local products, and their main means of transportation is the bicycle. Hipsters call themselves cultured people who reject consumerism.
7.Muppie
The term “muppies” was first coined by the American writer Michelle Miller, as a way of grouping the terms “millennials” and “hippies”.
In Colombia, muppies are an urban tribe that follows trends and wears designer clothes. They have an informal style, far from etiquette and conservatism. They usually wear fashionable jeans, casual and informal style clothes.
The muppies use various accessories to decorate their mobile devices. Among his ideology is the responsible consumption of resources, the defense of nature and the search for happiness.
In this sense, muppies prefer to have jobs that they love regardless of the pay.
8. emos
The urban tribe of the emos had a great boom in Colombia in the 2000s. However, over time it lost followers until it became extinct.
The members of this tribe took elements from the punk and gothic aesthetics. His clothing consisted of tight black jeans, with a low waist. They wore striped T-shirts and colored shoelaces.
The most distinctive element of the emos was their hair, letting a straight and abundant bangs fall over one of the eyes. In general, they were considered as a fashion rather than a culture.
9. Skateboarders
Skaters in Colombia are a tribe made up of young people who love extreme sports, particularly skateboarding. However, nowadays young people who also practice BMX are called skaters.
They usually dress comfortably, with skinny pants, loose-fitting shirts, and flat-soled tennis shoes (to ensure proper grip on the surface of the board).
They are recognized for having long, disheveled hair. They do not wear many accessories and usually wear hooded sweaters and t-shirts with brand logos.
10. Geeks
The geeks in Colombia are characterized by being a group of young people who share an excessive taste for video games, board games, flashy costumes, and certain movies, comics, and television characters.
They are defined by adore everything that comes from science fiction or fantasy series and movies, being one of the most typical Star Wars.
11. Gothic
With a 19th century aesthetic inspired by the grim and macabre, vampires and writers like Edgar A. Poe, the goths took over the world at one point. In Colombia they expanded, they listen to darkwave music, gothic rock and they dress in black.
12. Otaku
The otakus are an urban tribe characterized by being fans of Japanese anime, manga and video games.
13. Rastafarians
This urban tribe comes from the Jamaican Rastafarian movement and religion. In Bogotá they meet in certain bars (such as Casa Babylon, Congo, Roots Reggae or Mama Afrik), listen to reggae music, smoke marijuana and sometimes read Biblical passages. They are vegetarians, although not all.
References
Urban Tribe: urbandictionary.com
Urban tribes that went out of fashion in Colombia: elcolombiano.com