Peoples of New Guinea. Wild tribes: Papuans of New Guinea (7 photos)
The culture of Papua New Guinea is extremely diverse and it is hardly possible to identify a single type of tradition or way of life for the entire country. Even within one district or region, representatives of several dozen nationalities can live, often practically unrelated to each other either by origin or language. And given the isolation of many tribal groups and their careful adherence to their diverse and very ancient traditions, a very complex picture emerges, incorporating more than 1000 cultural groups.
The local population of Papua New Guinea is one of the most heterogeneous in the world. It is home to several thousand individual communities, many of which often number barely a few hundred people. Moreover, until recently, many neighboring tribes waged irreconcilable wars with each other, whose roots often go back into the darkness of millennia. Accordingly, emphasizing one’s cultural identity, especially in relation to hostile neighbors, led and still leads to an all-out increase in inter-tribal division. The isolation caused by mountainous terrain and rather harsh natural conditions is often so pervasive that some tribal groups, until recently, did not even know about the existence of neighboring peoples if they were even a few kilometers from the border of the tribal area. As a result, the saying “Every village has its own culture” even appeared here, accurately conveying the diversity of local life.
This picture is best seen in local languages. Papua New Guinea is the most multilingual country on Earth (a total of 820 local languages and dialects are recorded here, only half of which have clearly visible family ties). Most local dialects are very clearly localized - usually one language or another is spoken by representatives of one specific tribal group living in an equally limited area. Usually one language is used by several hundred to several thousand people, although Motu (Hiri-Motu is practically the main language of the coastal region around Port Moresby) or Enga (used in parts of the highlands) are much more common and are often needed for interethnic communication. However, these “common” languages are also divided into several clan dialects, which often have very little resemblance to each other. In addition, almost all local dialects are extremely complex grammatically and are replete with sounds that are almost unpronounceable to a European.
The hybrid Tok Pisin language is used throughout almost the entire territory of Papua New Guinea and has absorbed many word forms from both local dialects and from English and Dutch. Europeans usually call it "pidgin English", implying the English linguistic basis of this "international" language, but in reality it uses so many local idioms that it is extremely difficult to identify elements of any specific language in it. The language of interethnic communication, along with Tok Pisin and Motu (Hiri-Motu), is the so-called neo-Melanesian language (common in the eastern part of the country), which incorporates both the linguistic basis of the peoples of Oceania and numerous borrowings from English, German, Japanese and Dutch languages. It is often confused with the Motu language, since the sound of many words is indeed very similar, however, in fact, they are two different languages. The official language of the country is English, used only in education, commercial activities and government circles.
If you try to identify some common cultural elements for the entire diversity of the population of Papua New Guinea, then you will be able to relatively clearly localize only common traditions in clothing and body decoration, a fairly similar organization of settlements and a tribal structure common to all tribes. All other features, sometimes quite global, will be characteristic only of a specific tribal group. Therefore, when traveling inland and communicating with local residents, the help of a local guide and translator is extremely necessary, without which a tourist, even armed with encyclopedic knowledge about the structure of local society, cannot avoid trouble.
New Guineans are widely known for their elaborate and colorful dress, and the colors and styles of local clothing, especially the shape of headdresses, are unique to each tribal group and often serve as a sign of ethnic identification. Local tribes for the most part profess ancient animistic cults and totemic systems, according to which each tribal group has its own animal or plant that serves as the patron saint of the clan. Moreover, the nature and variety of such totems are simply amazing - they can be all kinds of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and even some mythical creatures. Therefore, the character of the tribal dress expresses the image or symbol of the tribal totem. The same purpose is served by the indispensable body painting, which in everyday life has a clear identification function (the islanders apply full tribal coloring to their bodies only for military operations or major festive ceremonies), and also serves as a means of protection from the influence of the external environment (the Japanese, for example, During the period of hostilities on the islands, it was noted more than once that complex local paint applied to the body protects against blood-sucking insects much better than military uniforms, nets and repellents).
Imitation of totems can also be clearly seen in ceremonial dances and music, as well as in wigs, characteristic of all the peoples of the islands, which are often a complex engineering structure made of human hair (the hair of women and children is used), bird feathers, flowers (sometimes specially grown only for this purpose). ) and animal furs. Naturally, each tribe has its own combination of these elements. To this it is worth adding the famous local masks, which are often integral with some special type of clothing or body paint, and also have a cult function. In everyday life, naturally, the islanders wear simplified versions of their “national clothes”; on holidays or in the event of some particularly significant events (regional festivals, fairs, negotiations with neighbors or receiving guests) they dress in compliance with all elements of local ritual.
In addition to the usual colors and dresses for the tribe, there is also a whole system of “event” elements. Women, for example, make special holiday dresses (for weddings, for example, black) or cover themselves with a special type of coloring (blue-gray clay for mourning, for example). Men have a complex system of body coloration, corresponding to their rank or social status, as well as the nature of the actions performed (quite often a real camouflage of gray-green spots and stripes of various shapes, applied to the body for hunting or combat). It should be noted that these traditions are so strong that the official symbols of a particular district or region are not coats of arms or flags, but some special totemic images, designed in the form of shields, masks or other items of military equipment (usually they are quite officially approved in as unique coats of arms at the highest level).
The clans in the highlands have an ancient and rather intricate social system, which is little affected by change even under the pressure of modern civilization. It is practically useless to describe it, since each tribal group has its own set of social relationships. The only common element is the observance of a complex social hierarchy (the clan is usually headed by a leader or elder; the remaining elements, from the system of inheritance to the building of a general hierarchy, are different for each tribe) and its rigid clan system. Plus, there is a typical division of responsibilities by gender - women are traditionally responsible for household chores and daily work for the benefit of the entire village (community), while men are engaged in hunting, trading and military operations. Material benefits are usually distributed among the households of the community by the eldest man of the clan.
Wealth as such has a rather unusual role here - the accumulation of property is not very accepted, but the system of transferring it in the form of gifts or offerings has a very complex ceremony and meaning, increasing the prestige of the giver and imposing certain obligations on the recipient (hence the islanders’ dislike for gifts from outside strangers and tips). A fundamental element of society is also the corollary concept of mutual obligations between clans (families), which still have a strong impact on the entire social structure.
Although the country is gradually changing, many people still live in small villages, making a living from farming, gardening, fishing, hunting or crafts. Almost all land, not just cultivable land, belongs to communities or villages, so it should be remembered that permission must be asked when entering someone's territory. The same applies to picking fruits or fishing on someone’s lands, but we are simply not talking about hunting - any stranger caught in someone else’s hunting grounds is considered a criminal by local law, and any (!) methods of influence can be applied to him.
The center of any populated area is the “house-tambaran” (in the closest translation - “house of spirits”). As soon as local residents establish a new settlement, the first thing they do is build this cult center, sacred to any islander, be he a Christian (and two-thirds of the country’s population officially consider themselves such) or an adherent of local beliefs. Only men of the tribe and tribal leaders can enter under the roof of this house, although for foreigners this rule is usually somewhat relaxed, and with some skill in negotiating a visit to this house it is quite possible and even necessary - after the ritual of visiting the “house tambaran”, any stranger becomes a guest . Such structures are usually built in a wide variety of styles, with massive carved wooden columns being their main distinguishing feature. The inside walls of the house are decorated with numerous carved images of spirits and totemic patrons of the tribe, to whom people turn for advice when performing any ceremonies. Inside there are also usually several pedestals similar to stools, but sitting on them is not allowed - bundles of leaves thrown on them indicate ownership of this place by one or another respected member of the community.
Ancient rituals still play a role in the most important social events. These complex ceremonies are usually supervised by clan elders, all members of the community have a role and significance in them, and the external decoration is often simply magnificent - almost all members of the community, depending on their social status, adorn themselves with traditional clothes, elaborate headdresses and coloring bodies, dance ceremonies, religious ceremonies and other elements are organized, most of which have come to our time from prehistoric times. Today, each of the twenty regions of the country holds its own cultural festival and regional celebrations, to which representatives of neighboring tribal groups and professional artistic groups are usually invited, and their visitors have the opportunity to see many of the rituals, traditions and arts of Papua in one place and in a short period of time. -New Guinea.
The country's artistic forms are as diverse as they are distinct from each other. In a country where the language varies from village to village, the artistic traditions of the people also differ in both style and forms of expression. It is not without reason that they say that on the territory of Papua New Guinea you can see the whole of Oceania at one time and in one place. Pottery, weapons, carvings, basketry, and musical instruments crafted by the craftsmen of various tribes according to their traditional skills and beliefs are the country's real wealth and popular export items.
When we talk about something outdated, we say: stone age. We try to imagine how our ancestors lived, and museums help us in this, where we can see all the attributes of “that century” - stone axes, flint scrapers and arrowheads. Many books, paintings and films are devoted to this. But not everyone knows that we have a unique opportunity to observe people of “that time” in the present.
The spaces of the Earth today are developed, inhabited, filled with people, in some places to the point of extreme crowding. And yet there are “nooks and crannies” on Earth where, without a never-invented “time machine,” you are surprised to discover life as it was in the Stone Age, when people did not yet know either iron or bronze, when the ageless yellow metal was still did not drive the human race crazy. One of these corners of relic life is located in the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, on the Bismarck Archipelago and the northern part of the Solomon Islands, where the state of Papua New Guinea is located.
Tribes that have preserved the original way of life of their ancestors, who cannot write or read, who do not know what electricity and a car are, and who obtain their food by fishing and hunting. They believe that the gods are sending them rain and are trying to protect themselves from contact with our modern world. It is Papua New Guinea that accommodates several dozen unique tribes on its territory.
Many missionary scientists tried to penetrate into the lives of representatives of various tribes, but few returned from there alive... practically no one!.. And the reason for the “one-way trip” is banal - the “stranger” was eaten. In scientific terms, the brave souls were destroyed by the cannibalism of the Papuan tribes. They did not accept strangers - violation of their space led to death.
Now everything has changed. Residents of many tribes happily receive guests and observe representatives of civilization with no less mutual interest.
There are few places on Earth with such a diversity of languages, customs and cultures. Imagine - on one part of the island live officials, businessmen, workers, wearing European clothes and having an education - modern people, and on the other - mountain tribes who have not crossed the Stone Age. They fight among themselves and do not understand the language of the tribes from the neighboring valley. And for us their lives are amazing. It is so strange that in the 21st century there are still peoples living in primitive times. But we are as wild to them as they are to us.
Here are a few of the tribes of Papua New Guinea. 
Dani tribe has long been unknown, and the high mountains in West Papua have long been considered uninhabited.
The places here are beautiful and the people are nice, the only problem is that strangers could not establish contact with them. Everyone disappeared without a trace - both travelers and missionaries.
In 1954, the first Christian missionary parachuted here. This is how the local population learned that they were not alone on this land.
It’s almost impossible to believe, but the stone ax remains the main tool of labor here, and the arrow and bow are the main weapons. But hunting feeds them less and less, because... the number of animals decreases - civilization advances.
Dani is a heavy smoker. Everyone smokes here - from children to old people. The first meeting with Dani may seem aggressive - it is a ritual in the form of fighting, with which they greet the natives. So it’s better to be mentally prepared for meeting them.
Papua is an amazing island. One hundredth of one percent of all humanity lives here, speaking 15% of all languages existing in the world! Even the Dani use four different dialects.
For some time, the Dutch missionaries did not understand why they were asked to stand downwind when they walked with members of this tribe - it turned out that the Dani did not really like the smell of the white man. The sensations were mutual - the smell that comes from the tribute is also unusual for a white man.
The Dani have a terrible tradition - they take the loss of loved ones very hard, and when this happens, the man cuts off a piece of his ear with a bamboo knife, and the women cut off the phalanges of their fingers.
It will probably take a long time before the Internet, social networks and other nonsense of civilization reach the tribes of Papua New Guinea. Then, perhaps, they will start talking about loneliness and selfishness, vanity and cynicism. In the meantime, the Dani have everything in common and they have much fewer problems, or they are completely different than in “our” world.
The main wealth of the Dani people is pigs. Everything here is measured in pigs. A person's wealth here can be determined by two things - the number of wives and the number of pigs. For ceremonies and holidays, the pig is very important for tribute. If you are going to visit them and want to make friends, buy a pig and you will be a welcome guest!
The Dani are excellent farmers - their harvest is an abundance of vegetables and fruits. Women wear grass skirts, and men wear a kateku, an item that is worn at the casual place and is the only element of a man's clothing. To the question: “Can a man walk without a catheque?” one traveler received the answer: “No, of course, without harim you are naked! We’ll have to cover ourselves with our hands so that women don’t see!” Of course, people who live closer to Wamena and go there often already wear clothes. But, despite some eroticism in the costume of local men, the morals of the tributes are strict. The promiscuity common to people in other parts of the world has no place there!
Dani live quite a long time and rarely get sick - both life in the fresh air and physical labor take their toll. It is clear that this promotes longevity. And this is despite the terrible unsanitary conditions, which they will so generously share with you, treating you to their outlandish dishes. But they live and don’t even complain! In general, one can only envy their immunity.
And there is something incredibly touching in these people and something that we no longer have - simplicity and sincerity.
Someday, the fruits of civilization and technological progress will reach this tribe, and the tributes will change. And they will become like us...
The next representatives of the “Stone Age” are fallow deer tribe. Arriving on their land, do not be surprised if you see a considerable number of abandoned huts. The fact is that the Lani people, wherever they stop, even for a few hours, build huts from branches, bamboo, leaves and ferns to protect them from the rain.
Not so long ago, the fallow deer tribe had a reputation for being cannibals. The connection between the fallow deer and the civilized world has still not been established. In exchange for knives, matches and pots, they offer hospitality in a hut filled with acrid smoke.
In general, the tribal people of Papua are an amazing people who know how to live in perfect harmony with nature, earning their living by hunting and farming. The men look robust and wear the same "clothes" as the Dani men. They don’t wear clothes here even in cold weather; in such cases, the body is rubbed with pork fat.
The appearance of women will be simpler - they are dressed in skirts made of plant fibers, on their heads they wear a long net that goes down on their backs like a bag in which personal belongings are kept, including babies or piglets. Their fingers are often horribly mutilated, the result of ritual amputation as a sign of mourning for their loved ones. So, finger by finger, the doe tribe sacrifices part of itself in memory of loved ones...
According to the authorities, there are no longer cases of cannibalism among the tribes of Papua, but some claim that in the depths of the island, in the most remote and difficult places, bloody battles still break out between tribes, which are a continuation of long-term enmity. In case of victory, they simply perform the traditional ritual of eating the body of the enemy.
But, despite all the “stoniness” of the doe’s life, they still had an inevitable meeting with a white man, and therefore with metal knives, plastic buckets, T-shirts, jeans, missionaries, anthropologists and tourists.
Yali tribe 35 years ago they ate “human flesh”. Today it is the turn of civilization - it “eats” them. Missionaries, with their interference in their lives, are gradually destroying their original culture, and the Indonesian government is unceremoniously seizing territory that has belonged to the Yali since ancient times. Now the Yali tribe numbers about 20 thousand people.
The very first acquaintance of the Yali with white people occurred more than 50 years ago, but this meeting changed practically nothing in the life of the Papuans. If you don’t count such little things as changes, such as the appearance of metal pots and pans in the life of the Yali. Their appearance differs little from the appearance of other natives of New Guinea. Their height is very small (the tallest Yali is one and a half meters), and they still walk naked. Women wear only some kind of miniskirt, while men wear a kateka - a kind of cover made of dried pumpkin - over their manhood.
Yali are very hardworking, their main occupation is agriculture, they grow sweet potatoes, bananas, corn, and tobacco. They eat only what they have grown themselves and what nature gives them. The only factory-made food product that is extremely popular among the Yali is dry vermicelli “Mivina”! This can be seen by driving through the Jungle, where wrappers from this fast food are scattered here and there.
The Yali are one of the few tribes that are known for cannibalism. The natives have various tricks and weapons for attacking people, which is worth one black bow made from palm wood and for which there is a whole arsenal of arrows for different prey. And among these arrows against birds and other living creatures there are arrows against people. According to Yali, buttocks are considered the most delicious delicacy. They see nothing reprehensible in cannibalism. But according to many travelers and island authorities, yalis no longer eat people with white skin. Since white color for them is mourning. It seems to them that white people are the servants of death.
They live according to the principle “girls go left, boys go right,” i.e. women with children live separately from men. But when the boys reach 4 years of age, they move to the “men's house”.
What can disrupt such an orderly way of life? The answer is simple - war. The most amazing thing is that the cause can be a complete little thing, but if it’s not a little thing, then it’s definitely not a reason to start a war. The pig, or rather its disappearance, is the “global” cause of strife. And if something like this happens, the yawls immediately take up their bows and spears, ready to attack. Everything is explained by the fact that among the Papuans a pig is worth its weight in gold; for one well-fed pig you can buy yourself a wife. This is the exchange.
But yali can treat themselves to fried wild boar extremely rarely, only on holidays. For example, a wedding or an initiation ceremony, that is, the formation of a boy or a man - here you can smoke a pig. And on weekdays you have to walk around a delicious pig and “delight” yourself with a semi-edible root or New Guinea carrot.
Missionaries are increasingly “infiltrated” into the life of the tribe, trying to make their life more civilized. They bring them medicines, teach children to read and write, build small hydroelectric power stations, landing pads for helicopters, bridges on rivers... But at the same time, the territory where the Yali tribe lives has been declared a national park, and, therefore, hunting is prohibited there, which deprives the tribe food. There were attempts to resettle the yali closer to civilization, because... Earthquakes are frequent here, but in the valley the Yali people begin to suffer from malaria.
At a time when cannibalism in New Guinea had not yet slowed down, local authorities, in order to ensure the safety of tourists, obliged all visitors to obtain permission from the police and provide them with their data - the approximate route of the expedition. Probably, so that they at least know in which pot to look for them later...
By the will of fate Asmat tribe settled in the wettest and swampiest areas with a high degree of humidity and the richest source of diseases.
They live in the region of the same name in the province of Papua in Indonesia. The number of Asmatian people is estimated at about 70,000. The Asmatians are professionals in the field of wood carving, their products are highly valued among collectors.
The Asmat culture and way of life are highly dependent on natural resources obtained from forests, rivers and seas. The Asmat live on starch extracted from sago palms, fish, forest game and other species of animals and plants that can be found on the island. Due to frequent floods, Asmats place their homes on wooden beams - two or more meters above ground level. In some regions, Papuans' homes are located 25 meters from the ground.
The Asmats, like other tribes of Papua, at one time “sinned” with cannibalism.
They still have many interesting ways to use parts of the human body - using the skull as a “pillow” under the head or a children’s toy, the human tibia was used as a dart.
And now they will help the guests build a house, every day they will supply you with fish, shrimp and boar meat in exchange for fishing line, hooks, razor blades, matches, salt, knives, axes or machetes. Some of them will take the time to help you learn their language, which will initially overwhelm you with an incredible mixture of incoherent mumbling, cooing and cackling.
Korowai - tree-dwelling tribe
The Korowai tribe is one of the most interesting and unique finds for anthropologists and other researchers. They live in the eastern region of Indonesia in trees and speak only one language they understand. According to this year's census, there were about 3,000 Aboriginal people in this tribe. They skillfully climb ladders to their wooden houses, located at an altitude of 50 meters or more from the ground. The height at which the house is located depends on the relationship with fellow tribesmen. The worse the relationship, the higher the house. For construction, trees are cut down, on which a rather specific structure is installed. It’s incredible: there, at a height, dogs, pigs and other living creatures also live together with members of one or two families. You can climb to this house only by a very thin wooden ladder - along a bamboo stalk with steps cut out.
Until the late 1970s, when anthropologists began studying the tribe, the Korowai were unaware of the existence of people other than their tribe. The tribe's favorite dish is beetle larvae. To do this, sago trees are cut down 4-6 weeks before the feast and left to rot in the swamp, where they are filled with these larvae. At the appropriate stage of larval development, the trees are “opened” with a stone ax or a sharp spear. Beetles are eaten both raw and fried. They taste quite good. In the protein-scarce world of the Korowai people, these beetles are one of several important sources of fat.
They greet guests attentively, but warily. They can treat you to their delicacy - a dish made from sago starch. They also eat bananas and pineapples. Pork is a luxury for them; they eat it probably once a year. But communicating with representatives of this tribe is not so easy - they didn’t like something, so they immediately ran up and closed.
One of the most mysterious peoples on earth - tribe kombai. Until recently, they practiced cannibalism. Many missionaries tried to understand what makes tribes eat their own kind?
In order to understand another culture, you need to become part of it. This is what many scientific travelers did. No roads, no concrete, no buildings, no telegraph poles - just kilometers of jungle. These people live deep in the forest and are hunters and gatherers. The journey to them could have taken several weeks if not for the network of airfields built by the missionaries. About one hundred representatives of the Kombai tribe live in Wangamala, built in the 70s. They wear European clothes, the children go to school, and on Sundays everyone gathers for mass. After the missionaries came to them, the Kombai did not immediately accept them and were very hostile. But after the missionaries gave them clothes, dishes, and tobacco, the attitude towards them changed. People who live in villages have it much easier than those who live in the jungle. Seeing a man in clothes, they hide and shoot him. These people still eat each other to this day.
Don't be surprised if they ask you to take off your clothes when you meet them. Perhaps to make sure that you are ready to speak Their language, following Their traditions. Kombai walk naked, covering only the groin area with leaves. For an outsider, invading one of the clans can cost their lives. If you approach one of the huts alone, you may be shot. There are no utensils here that we use. Imagine what it’s like to live without frying pans or utensils in which to boil water and even without drinking utensils - there are only leaves and stones.
Smoking is their favorite pastime and it is surprising that these people do not have problems with their lungs, at least they can easily move along the mountains and slopes without experiencing shortness of breath.
In this society, responsibilities are clearly divided into men's and women's. When men cut down a tree, women take out the core. Their life seems easy. When they want to eat, they go hunting, and the rest of the time they rest.
It's hard to imagine that these calm and good-natured people could be cannibals. Cannibalism is explained differently in different world cultures. Reasons range from simple hunger to paying homage to the dead. In some tribes, cannibalism is considered a form of execution - only criminals are eaten. It is believed that if a person is evil, he must be eaten. The Kombai believe that the soul lives in the stomach and brain. That is why these body parts need to be eaten. “If a bad person kills someone from my family, I will kill him. If he is from another village, I will eat him. If he is from our village, I will give him to be eaten by all my neighbors.” Like this. They still follow this morality.
The jungle is covered with a carpet of thorns, but the Kombai don't care. They do not wear shoes - this makes their feet hard and insensitive.
Traveling through Papua can be a good school of life. Having been close to danger and difficult living conditions, you evaluate your life in a new way and find extremely important what you previously treated with unforgivable carelessness.
Papua New Guinea is a state in Oceania, occupying the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and various small islands. The country's population is 7 million people. The name "Papua" comes from the Malay word "papuwa", which translated into Russian means "curly" (according to another version - from "orang papua" - "curly-haired black-headed man"). This name was given to the island by its European discoverer, the Portuguese Jorge de Menezes, in 1526, noting the shape of the hair of the local residents. In 1545, the Spaniard Inigo Ortiz de Retes visited the island and gave it the name "New Guinea" because, in his opinion, the local people were similar to the natives of Guinea in Africa.
People first inhabited the territory of Papua New Guinea 60-45 thousand years ago from the territory of Southeast Asia, crossing several sea straits. At that time, sea levels were lower and the island was one with Australia. The descendants of the island's first population, who now make up the majority of the population of Papua New Guinea, are called Papuans. About three thousand years ago, a second wave of people from Asia moved to the island; they, like the Papuans, belonged to the Australoid race (which also includes the Australian aborigines), but spoke Austronesian languages. Often the Austronesian population of the island is also called Papuans due to their external similarity. At the same time, the line that separates the Austronesians from the Papuans is not clear. It is possible that the Austronesians who arrived on the island dissolved into the local Papuan population, passing on their languages and culture to them. Now in Papua New Guinea there are about 7 thousand tribes and nationalities speaking more than 800 languages (of which 650 are Papuan, and the rest are Austronesian). Papua New Guinea accounts for 12 percent of the world's languages and is the most linguistically diverse region on the planet.
The Russian ethnographer Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklouho-Maclay (1846-1888) made a great contribution to the study of the Papuans.
On the pages of the site I will tell you about the most interesting Papuan tribes. The first tribe that will be discussed does not have a generally accepted name. It is often called skeleton tribe due to local customs of painting the body with white and black paint to imitate the appearance of a skeleton. The tribe lives in the village of Mindima in the mountainous province of Chimbu. According to local legend, the people of this tribe were eaten by the evil forest spirit Omo Masalai. Then they decided to pretend to be spirits themselves in order to drive out the evil spirit. To this day, the ritual of expelling an evil spirit is repeated during a religious holiday. People repaint themselves as skeletons and chase after a person who dresses up as an evil spirit.
Next is a selection of photos showing the ritual of expelling an evil spirit and preparation for it. The selection includes works by the following photographers: Brent Stirton (brentstirton.com), Rita Willaert (flickr.com/photos/rietje/), Eric Lafforgue (ericlafforgue.com).
Papuans are a group of peoples inhabiting Papua New Guinea. They constitute the main population of the country. Also, the peoples of the Papuan group are found in neighboring regions - in Indonesia, East Timor, and northwestern Melanesia.
The name Papuans comes from the Indonesian word "papuwa", which means "curly". The Papuans include several hundred peoples. Among them there are both large nations and tribes of several dozen people lost in the jungle. The most numerous are Enga, Chimbu and Medlpa. The number of these peoples exceeds 100 thousand people. Ekari, Kamano, Huli, Angal and others are quite large. The total number is about 5 million. The languages of the Papuans are incredibly diverse. There are more than 700 of them, but the estimate is approximate. Scientists often cannot say whether a particular language is independent or a dialect of another language. There are simply not enough researchers for such linguistic diversity. Officially, Papuans are considered supporters of Christianity. But the Christian religion did not penetrate deeply into their worldview. Traditional beliefs are still strong.
The Papuans first inhabited this territory 20-25 thousand years ago. Later, 3 thousand years BC, they began to be supplanted by Melanesians. The Papuans had to retreat from the coast into the depths of the forests.
In 1975, the period of European colonization ended. Papua New Guinea gained independence. The development of industry and culture began, this united different groups of Papuans. Nowadays, not all of them live in primitive jungle conditions. Many became urban residents, working in the service sector, or entrepreneurs. Some work in the mining industry or become civilized farmers. However, more than half of the Papuans maintain a traditional way of life.
In terms of farming, they are similar to the Melanesians. They are engaged in tropical farming; due to the lack of agricultural machinery, work is done manually. They grow coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, and bananas. Copra is produced for sale. The main type of livestock farming is pig breeding. Hunting is less important, and fishing is common only off the coast of the island.
Papuan villages are small. There are times when a village consists of one long house. One family owns several plots of land. Some plots are being cultivated, while others are being harvested. The tropical climate promotes high yields; but insufficiently efficient farming methods create difficulties. Joint work accepted.
Papuans worship their ancestors (ancestor cult) and believe in the existence of witchcraft. Sacred to the tribe are its totems. Initiation rituals (initiation of teenagers into adulthood) are preserved. The rituals are observed by big men. Moreover, in every Papuan village there is a Christian church. There may even be two of them if the inhabitants of the village belong to different branches of Christianity. Traditional Papuan mythology is very extensive. To this day, they have preserved traditional folklore, including music, dancing, and fairy tales.
Evil, wild and eating their own kind - these are, perhaps, the main characteristics that are usually used to describe the tribal inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. However, in reality, everything is somewhat different - rumors about cruelty and cannibalism flourishing on these islands are clearly greatly exaggerated. At least, tourists who dare to get acquainted with the Papuan culture personally claim that the local aborigines are quite friendly, although at first they seem very stern and gloomy. By the way, Miklouho-Maclay, a Russian ethnographer-traveler who lived with wild tribes for many years, wrote about this in his diary. The scientist almost immediately revealed the innocence of these people, describing his first appearance on the island as follows: “With the exception of two or three scratches, no one dared to inflict a serious wound on me.” It must be said that since then (and this was in 1870), the Papuans have not lost their kindness of heart and are still ready to talk peacefully, unless you encroach on their lands, women and... pigs.
Stone XXI century
Over the past centuries, not only the psychological portrait of savages, but also the entire structure of their existence has changed little. Ethnographers who carefully studied the Papuan world agreed that many tribes still retained signs of the Stone Age structure in their everyday life. Most Papuans, being far from progress and the Big World, live exactly the same way as their ancestors lived. Yes, of course, some signs of the modern world have nevertheless penetrated the islands (instead of feathers and palm leaves, the natives now wear fabrics), but in general the way of life remains the same as many centuries ago.
However, it would be an absolute lie to say that with the advent of white people on these lands, the life of the Papuans did not change in any way. Since the creation of the mining industry by Europeans and the development of tourism in the country, some of the indigenous residents have left their tribal communities and are engaged in transporting guests, developing deposits, servicing shops, and so on. Today we can already say that a layer of entrepreneurs and farmers is being formed in Guinea. And many traditions and rituals either disappeared without a trace or turned into tourist attractions.
The tribe's plans are coming to life!
As many years ago, the bulk of the Papuan population lives in a communal-tribal system. Within a single tribe, as in the Stone Age, there is no place for private property, monogamous relationships, class gradation and state laws. All major work, be it harvesting or war with a neighboring tribe, is done by the community together. All disputes are resolved together, holidays are celebrated, and magical rituals are performed. Even seemingly purely personal issues such as choosing a bride or the timing of marriage are also decided jointly.
Papuans live mainly by hand farming, gathering, and much less often by hunting. With the advent of Europeans, pig farming began to play an important role in the functioning of the tribe, although meat is eaten very rarely here, for reasons of economy, replacing it with sweet potatoes, coconuts and bananas.
The tribe itself is an association of large families, and the understanding of a “large family” here is very different from the European one and sometimes numbers about 30-40 people. What is noteworthy is that the basis of the cell of a wild society is women, the numerous wives of one man, the head of the family.
Who is the head in this house?
Well, what is a tribe without a leader! It is very easy to recognize him: his concentrated face, brutal appearance, piercing gaze. His opinion is authoritative and rarely subject to appeal. Moreover, even when the leader dies, his fellow tribesmen come to his body wrapped in palm leaves for a long time, eager to receive a piece of the wisdom of the departed leader.
The tribal ruler of Papua not only commands the community, but also heals it, for he is also a shaman and healer. Only the leader knows what disease and how to treat it, and how to properly circumcise boys - a mandatory procedure for initiating young men into men. In addition, the leader sterilizes the women of the tribe if she has given birth to two or more children. Alas, the tribe’s habitat is very limited; the community has no right to move from its home, so the birth rate in families is strictly controlled.
Men rule the world
Some will say that today in Papua women’s rights are not taken into account at all, but history shows that before the situation looked much less disingenuous. Not so long ago, in all Papuan tribes (and in some still) there were so-called Men's Houses. Only adult representatives of the stronger sex (those who are polygamists!) were allowed into it, and women were strictly prohibited from entering. And, truly, it is inappropriate for a woman to distract men from important thoughts and conversations. And important things were really discussed in the Men's House. The council decided what price should be offered for the bride, which of the tribe's families needed more living space, how to divide the harvest, and which warrior was worthy of going hunting.
Which of the young women of the tribe and, more importantly, who needed to marry, was also decided by the Men's House. In this case, the feelings of the unfortunate woman, of course, were not taken into account. And since it was impossible to marry young people from the same tribe (this was equated to incest), a very unenviable fate awaited the young lady. However, the position of a young woman in the tribe always had a temporary status. They lived in their community only until marriage, after which they moved to their husband’s tribe. Despite their joint activities, the barrier between the married couple remains throughout their lives: he lives in the Men's House, she in the Women's Hut, he owns his property, she owns hers. So the spiritual unity of a couple in love in Papua New Guinea does not even smell!
Wall to wall
The customs and traditions of the Papuan tribes are very different, and therefore each other’s rituals are completely incomprehensible to them. It’s no joke: there are about 700 languages on these islands alone. So things are not going well with mutual understanding here, and when it comes to resolving mutual issues regarding the ownership of land, women and pigs, the Papuans take up the hatchet. Fighting here is not only a way to settle a dispute, but also a matter of honor for every man.
Several such inter-tribal armed clashes occur every year. The basis for declaring a serious war is theft or murder. As tradition dictates, the entire tribe stands up for the injured Papuan, but the community of the villain also does not remain in debt. The most commonly used traditional weapons are bows, arrows, axes and spears, but recently the Papuans have begun to resort to firearms. If the leaders of the warring tribes cannot come to an agreement peacefully, hostilities could continue for months, or even years.
Dance War
And yet, Papuans do not always howl with knives! In August, fights of a completely different nature take place on the islands - dance fights. At this time, at the foot of one of the highest mountains - Mount William - about a hundred tribes from all over Papua New Guinea gather to compete in dance skills at the traditional Sing Sing festival dedicated to the country's Independence Day.
Some may think that this festival of drums, costumes, songs and dances is nothing more than a tourist gimmick, but the roots of this event go back to the Stone Age. The distant ancestors of the Papuans performed something similar in honor of a victory over a neighboring community or in honor of a truce (all with the same neighboring tribe). In the 50s of the twentieth century, the festival received the status of an official holiday and was held to bring warring communities together. While ordinary members of the tribe danced and collectively ate watermelons, the leaders reached important agreements. The material benefits from the festival, when tourists began to come to the dance match, became just an additional bonus.
Papuans begin preparing for the event from the very early morning. There is a lot of work to be done: everyone needs to be painted in “branded” colors, dressed up in palm leaves, bird feathers, beads made from fangs and dog bones, and distributed dance parts. All efforts are thrown into telling the audience as clearly as possible, through crazy dances and chants, about the traditions, rituals and structure of their tribe. Tourists from all over the world come to see this colorful show. And there is a reason for this: this holiday is considered the largest gathering of native tribes in the world.
