I think I made the Papua New Guineans seem much worse than they are. I mean, their reputation makes knees wobble. And, yes, they often have tribal wars and kill each other. And yes they carry around machetes and make skirts out of the animals they’ve killed. But the point was that I found their cores to be soft and squishy after I peeled away their hard pelt skirts (Figuratively. I didn’t undress any villagers.).
The Huli wigmen are one of the most friendly tribes. They are a well-known tribe in PNG because word of their outrageous human hair wigs has spread on the internet. They are actually the guys I wanted to see most, the main reason for my trip to Tari.
The wigmen wear wigs (hence the name) made out of 2 year’s growth of human afro, grown by the bachelor boys (men who are not allowed to marry because they must stay away from women, who are thought to be follicle blockers I guess).
They decorate these real afros with feathers from all the amazing birds they’ve killed. Then they add colorful face paint, weapons and necklaces made from cassowaries, and even a beak or two from a horn-bill (see the bird from the previous post that looks like a toucan). The men truly become birds themselves. The wigmen then do a sing-sing, which I guess is their version of flying like a bird.
While some dress in the get-up every day, most break out their wigs on special occasions: PNG independence day, christmas, marriage celebrations, etc.
When they performed for me, one of them said, “We usually make our face paint out of clay from the sepik river banks, but since you are just a tourist we are going to use this store-bought tempura.” Right.
At least they were funny. And I felt comfortable in their village.
(Most are younger than this guy,
but I didn’t get to see the real ones since my presence would inhibit hair growth.)
that is cast over a wig-grower’s head to promote growth.
A bachelor boy showing how they drink magic water through a blessed bamboo tube that is imperative in the wig-growing process (kinda sounds like Scientology).
good with my sunglasses on. And I look damn good wearing pig tusks and a
murder weapon made from a cassowary’s toenail.
The front feathers are from parrots.
This is a very special wig made from 2 afros!
{ 12 comments }
Awesome article bud, I really fell in love with this article. I’ll be sure to show this to my dad who would, odds are, enjoy to check out this post too. Found this article through the Google search engine by the way, if you were wondering :P. Many thanks for the great read!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great blog!
Great post! I?m just starting out in community management/marketing media and trying to learn how to do it well – resources like this article are incredibly helpful. As our company is based in the US, it?s all a bit new to us. The example above is something that I worry about as well, how to show your own genuine enthusiasm and share the fact that your product is useful in that case
My hubby and I were sent here since this particular blogging site had been tweeted by a lady I had been following and am really I made it here.
Now you might have your new web site and also you’re eager to begin making some gross sales! However, how will you make gross sales for those who would not have excessive volumes of tourists to your web site?
Wonderful blog you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of online community where I can get feed-back from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Thanks!
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering problems with your blog. It seems like some of the text within your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This could be a issue with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Thanks
I’d have to come to terms with you on this. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
I would just like to letvv y0u know hvow much I learn from reading blogs Liked u.Hope to be back in the near future for some more goodies
I would just like to letvv y0u know hvow much I learnt from your writtings Tweeted it.Hope 2 be back again for some more good articles
{ 1 trackback }