IDNO

T.133069.MST

Description

On Strathern's listing: Portrait of dancer (donor) showing dark decoration.

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Papua New Guinea; Western Highlands Province; near Togoba; Rokopa moka pena

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Strathern, Marilyn (later Prof., Dame)

Collector / Expedition

Date

3 September 1967

Collection Name

Strathern Collection

Source

Strathern, Marilyn (Prof., Dame)

Format

Colour Transparency

Primary Documentation

Other Information

T.133064.MST - T.133082.MST were identified by Marilyn Strathern as Set 54.

Publication: Similar image [T.133074.MST] published in 'Self-Decoration in Mount Hagen', 1971, after p.164 and captioned: “Colour plate 15 The velvet capes and breast shield of three Superb birds of paradise shine like the dancer’s own hair and skin, which glisten with grease. Blackened ear pendants made from nicked-out kumin feathers emphasise the ‘dark’ aspect of his decorations, the paint and white roundel complement this with ‘brightness’”. [KH 3/11/2016]

Related Archive: Draft caption for similar image [T.133074.MST] in document ‘Caption to colour pics used 'Self-Decoration in Mount Hagen', 1971 1-15’ with the following text: “Grease indicates prosperity and health. In display, dancers may touch up their wigs with oil, and oil poured liberally round the neck glistens on the beard and long black cheek feathers.” [Paper Archives will be deposited at Girton College, Cambridge, date to be confirmed. KH 3/11/2016]

Related Archive: Marilyn summarizes her 1967 field notebook as follows: “As soon as I returned from Pangia (Southern Hlds) to Hagen (I was staying at Kelua) (Western Hlds), I heard of several moka (Hagen ceremonial exchange occasion at which people decorate) feeding into each other, eg the Palka [tribe] were waiting for the Ndika [tribe] Roklamb [clan] to give them shells before they could pass them on to the Kungunuka. The Roklamb were also giving shells to the Kløpka. The Roklamb would be following these shell gifts with individual donations of pigs to diverse partners.
Reason for the shell gifts: making both a wua peng (‘man’s head’ payment = war death compensation) and a payment to a set of ‘non agnates’. (1) The war compensation was for the death of an ally, namely of a Penambe man who lived with the Palka when the Palka were allies (kui wua) of the Ndika Roklamb and attacked by their common enemy the Ndika Mokuka. The Roklamb had long ago compensated the Palka for Palka men who were killed helping them – but this occasion was because of this one Penambe man. (2) The ‘non agnates’ were three Kløpka men, related through women to the Roklamb who took them in, but are now dispersed; the gift was to ‘release’ them from their obligations to the Roklamb, since they will pay back pigs for the shells (ie the shells are the last ‘help’ the Roklamb will give them – for which they will then make a handsome return). Pigs were also given to individual moka partners.”
“On the actual day itself, pearlshells were given to Palka, Kungunuka and Kløpka, while pigs went to diverse partners Central-Melpa style. Only the Roklambo danced (with helpers). Those who are giving shells wear køi wal: these are Roklamb Meont; helped by Roklamb Kutukoemb who were not in køi wal (the two sets initially began singing at different ends of the ceremonial ground, some 30 all told). I began by taking photographs of visitors.” [Strathern's word document file]

Related Archive: Marilyn Strathern lists “Ndika Roklamb moka and conclusion. The giving of shells was followed by pigs, but I have no pics of this. 4 tubes of tree oil also given but no pics.” [Strathern's word document file]

Bibliographic Reference: See M. Strathern, Self-Decoration in Mount Hagen (1971: 71-73)

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