Stone Aged Tribesmen
Consider the possibility of being guarded by hundreds of Stone Age tribesmen all smeared up in pig grease and soot brandishing their arrows, spears, and axes in your direction while they howl their war chants. You would not like it one bit. This is the annual Highlands Show of Papua New Guinea and you are being entertained.
For Papua New Guinea, it is located in between and the equator, it is made up of small islands from the Bismarck Archipelago plus the eastern half of the large island that it shares with Indonesia. It was only able to achieve independence and nationhood in 1975 but before then, Papua New Guinea were separately known as Papua and New Guinea and were managed under various United Nations trust arrangements by. The western way of life remains to be a mystery in some parts of this country. If you’re looking to learn about travel papua new guinea, visit their site for more details.
Traveling on foot, white men in the 1930s were the first ones to explore these rugged Highlands. It is until today that the white man continues to attract attention and a camera toting tourist is as much of a spectacle as the performing painted warrior in the Highlands Show. The two day show is held alternately in the towns of Goroka and Mount Hagen and attracts over 60,000 people, most of them Papua New Guineans. Days or weeks of walking is something most people from Telefomin, Wapenamanda, and Ukarumpa do not mind because they want to participate in the festivities.
Being staged here are the agricultural and crafts exhibits as well as demonstrations for skills like house building and fire making. Light entertainment is scattered throughout the program. Carrying their weapons, the barefoot competitors engage in events including chasing after the greased pig, bicycle races, and climbing up a greased pole where beer and cigarettes hang above. Actually, the climax of the weekend is when tourists and locals are able to witness each of the tribes display their treasured ceremonial attire in the sing sing competition.
As the pace changes to simulate a battle or stage a legend from tribal history, the people dance and chant accompanied by the deep hollow beat of the kundu drum even under the scorching heat. Considering the kaleidoscope of color and costume, it is a treat during the Highlands sing. The dancers embellish themselves in fantastic style. Either their faces are colored in red and blue ochre or their bodies are covered with the darkest soot trimmed with everything from leaves to feathers to beads and even store bought crepe paper. You may see safety pins used as earrings and ball point pens not to mention a piece of an automobile engine used by those with pierced septums. Learn about sepik river.
On such special occasions the village heirlooms are unwrapped and exhibited. Normally, children will wear their headpieces made from the fur of the spotted cuscus, a small marsupial, with pride. When it comes to seashells, they are still seen as valuable possessions for they were once a form of currency. Some people are lucky enough to witness the tall swaying plumes of the cassowary and of the peacock like Raggiana Bird of Paradise which is the national symbol.
You can even see the eerie Asaro mudmen. Apart from being coated in white mud, they use sun baked clay and straw to make grotesque headgear. When they do their swaying dance, they slap leaves off their thighs. There is a legend that mentions how a tribe after being pursued by their enemies retreated into the Asaro River.
After they emerged covered in the white clay, their enemies fled thinking that they were ghouls. Because the Asaro mudmen continue to cover themselves in the same river mud, they are commemorating this victory. Those who gave the best presentations and were best in their costumes were awarded with prizes in cash and cattle as well after all the sing sings. As the festivities come to a close, those in attendance go home.
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