An Abelam myth story.
During a trip along the Sepik, I heard a folk tale about a powerful spirit-man who became a yam (a sweet potato) and drifted down the river spreading around Maprik, where the Abelam tribes were living.
Two years later, I arrived at the Abelams and recorded their side of that tumbuna story of the deity which brought the yam to their lands.
Tag: Tribal
The story of Makapasapa and Sasaap
A Kwoma myth story which I heard from David Kaipuk, a Kwoma elder, on my first expedition along the Sepik, in 2012. Then, he told me only a part of it, saying that the rest belongs to other clans. Afterwards, I saw motifs from the Makapsapa myth painted and carved inside the tambaran, and even on the posts of the Ambunti market.
In 2015, I recorded the complete story from Kowspi brothers, two Kwoma artists.
Collecting folk tales along the Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Between 2012 and 2018, I travelled to remote communities along the Sepik. I found my way by word of mouth, through extended families, following their stories. I joined my hosts working sago, catching fish, hunting, trading crocodile skins and gold-mining. I attended ritual ceremonies, watched trials for custom-breaking and sorcery, witnessed wife exchanges and listened to every-day issues mixing old taboos and nowadays solutions.
Several elders and young artists were receptive to share their stories with me.
Glossary for Sepik folk tales
I wrote this glossary with photos to explain some of the words and expressions which appear frequently in the stories. It’s not meant to be an extract of a PNG Pidgin – English dictionary, but to give a little bit of context related to the environment where I collected the folk tales. Bilum – means bag or sac. Traditionally it’s […]
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West Sepik to Vanimo (PNG)
On the Sepik bank, the Abau people, from Baio, were watching the boats passing by, trying to seize their cargo and guess where they were coming from. This bustling activity didn’t seem to have much impact on their lifestyle yet.
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To the Ama Mountain people (May River, PNG)
If you want to find remote communities you must go upstream, to Ama Mountain or to Iteli.
Where is that?
Somewhere between May and Sepik Rivers, in the upper Sepik basin.
Singsing in Purkunawi, with Kwoma people and Michael Somare (Sepik River)
Most of the singsing groups were from the Kwoma communities, where the tambaran (spirits or cult house) and singsing are still alive.
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Spirits’ houses and Kwoma people, (Sepik River)
The Kowmas are among the very few ethnic groups along the Middle Sepik course, that continues the tradition of tambaran and singsing (ceremony) after the missionaries’ assault. The tambaran is a powerful place, the gathering of the male ancestors’ spirits. Pillars, crossbars, roof and walls are carved and painted with motifs from their mythology.
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Vanimo to Sepik River (Papua New Guinea)
In Ambunti I was introduced to community elders from the Kwoma clans, who took me into the fantastic world of Sepik mythology. I met indigenous artists, saw churches featuring tribal-cult-houses designs, and listen to folk tales from the local mythology
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