CULTURE & CUSTOMS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Physically remote and still very isolated, Papua New Guinea is one of the least explored countries in the world, both culturally and geographically. This means its cultural life and customs have been allowed to flourish untainted by outside influence for centuries. And, due to the huge number of tribes living here – an estimated 750 – it has more than just well preserved culture; it has a glorious abundance of it, with hundreds of diverse tribal traditions and ceremonies that are very local and utterly unique.
Although much of PNG remains unexplored and unexplained, it is possible to meet and learn about some of the tribes both on New Guinea itself and the surrounding islands. The Highland regions are a great place for tribal encounters, and home to some of the most resilient culture anywhere in PNG. You might join traditional mumu feast, for which food is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked under hot stones, and witness a sing sing, a performance devised as a way for neighbouring villages to peacefully share traditions.
Another superb way to delve into the culture and customs of Papua New Guinea is to attend one of its colourful festivals, such as the Goroka Show held in September. Tribes from across the Highlands come wearing their own unique traditional dress, which might include elaborate feather headdresses, grass or bead skirts, shell and horn necklaces and very colourful face and body paint, plus traditional weapons. Traditional tribal dress often features feathers from the birds of paradise that live in PNG, a bird much venerated by local people. Fortunately, few birds die for these costumes nowadays. Tribal headdresses are handed down through generations, and although local people are permitted to hunt birds of paradise, they generally target older males with full plumage, leaving younger males to continue breeding.
While tourism barely exists in PNG, some tribes have cottoned on to the revenue potential of enacting ceremonies for paying visitors, even if they are not traditional to their tribal group or being performed at the traditional time of year. Ask questions of the tour operator, to find out more about the integrity of any scheduled tribal encounters.
Physically remote and still very isolated, Papua New Guinea is one of the least explored countries in the world, both culturally and geographically. This means its cultural life and customs have been allowed to flourish untainted by outside influence for centuries. And, due to the huge number of tribes living here – an estimated 750 – it has more than just well preserved culture; it has a glorious abundance of it, with hundreds of diverse tribal traditions and ceremonies that are very local and utterly unique.
Although much of PNG remains unexplored and unexplained, it is possible to meet and learn about some of the tribes both on New Guinea itself and the surrounding islands. The Highland regions are a great place for tribal encounters, and home to some of the most resilient culture anywhere in PNG. You might join traditional mumu feast, for which food is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked under hot stones, and witness a sing sing, a performance devised as a way for neighbouring villages to peacefully share traditions.
Another superb way to delve into the culture and customs of Papua New Guinea is to attend one of its colourful festivals, such as the Goroka Show held in September. Tribes from across the Highlands come wearing their own unique traditional dress, which might include elaborate feather headdresses, grass or bead skirts, shell and horn necklaces and very colourful face and body paint, plus traditional weapons. Traditional tribal dress often features feathers from the birds of paradise that live in PNG, a bird much venerated by local people. Fortunately, few birds die for these costumes nowadays. Tribal headdresses are handed down through generations, and although local people are permitted to hunt birds of paradise, they generally target older males with full plumage, leaving younger males to continue breeding.
While tourism barely exists in PNG, some tribes have cottoned on to the revenue potential of enacting ceremonies for paying visitors, even if they are not traditional to their tribal group or being performed at the traditional time of year. Ask questions of the tour operator, to find out more about the integrity of any scheduled tribal encounters.
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