IDNO

N.132087.MST

Description

On Strathern's listing: Councillor Nggoemba (Membo clan) leading the Membo men carrying pigs back from Əm. He is in white hat, white shirt and waistcoat. Note pig stakes (for some other moka occasion when live pigs will be given) down the ceremonial ground.

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Papua New Guinea; Western Highlands Province; Mope

Cultural Affliation

Kawelka Membo

Named Person

Kawelka Membo Nggoemba (Councillor)

Photographer

Strathern, Marilyn (later Prof., Dame)

Collector / Expedition

Date

9 May 1964

Collection Name

Strathern Collection

Source

Strathern, Marilyn (Prof., Dame)

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

N.132078.MST - N.132095.MST were identified by Marilyn Strathern as Set 8.

Named Person: "Nggoemba (Councillor; he spear-headed the Kawelka re-settlement of Kuk, starting in the 1960’s), Kawelka Membo M." [Information provided by Marilyn Strathern on 'List of Personal Names', JD 11/11/2016]

Context: moka = 1. General term for ceremonial exchange between partners coordinated in a single set of events, involving gifts of pigs and / or shells according to certain formulae, and in several stages, with the sequences eventually reversing so donors become recipients.
2. Term for the occasion of a ‘final’ gift in such a sequence, at which people – especially and often only the donors -- dance and decorate. The rationale for the gift payments may be in terms of warfare exchange, e.g. for enemy-compensation and ally-reparation payments (in 1970s, esp. N Melpa) or as ‘pure moka’, which includes pig-moka and shell-moka (pp3,48; MS word document “Order B (3) 1967”, p1) where payments to kin or allies may be made under all kinds pretext (1970s, esp. C Melpa). The size and significance of the moka will determine whether or not a festive occasion is made of the final gift. (Melpa). [Strathern's Glossary word document, JD 4/24/2017]

Bibliographic Reference: For 0151.64, see M. Strathern, Property, substance and effect (1999), pp. 212, 227; see n.27, p 298 for other uses.

A grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation Historical Archives Program supported the documentation and preservation of the Strathern photographic collection. [JD 6/11/2017]