A WordCamp is no fun without a Wapuu. We are very excited to introduce our very own Wapuu “Yakapuu” to represent WordCamp Colombo 2017!
What’s a Wapuu, you might ask? Wapuu is essentially the unofficial mascot of WordCamps. The idea was first floated in 2009 at the WordCamp Tokyo after-party, where Matt asked Japanese users for ideas to promote WordPress in Japan, and one of the suggestions was to create a mascot. One thing leads to another and finally, Wapuu was born! (Here’s the complete story for those who want to know more) Ever since then, almost every WordCamp has had their own Wapuu.
Yakapuu means wapuu wearing the “Gini Jala Raksha” mask. Wearing of masks in dance performances and the art associated with creating them are among the major cultural traditions in Sri Lanka. The masks being used in the Sri Lankan dances represent the four main types of our own ancestors:
- Yaksha
- Naga
- Rakus
- Deva
…and they are a representation of how they dressed to fight during the war.
In WordCamp Colombo 2017, you will get to witness yourself, the “Ginijala Raksha Dance”. That is our “Wapuu Dance”!