#goroka

Goroka, Papua New Guinea: Goroka Cultural Show 2024... Goroka is the capital of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. It is a town of approximately 19,000 people, 1,600 meters above sea level. It has an airport and is on the "Highlands Highway", about 285 km from Lae in Morobe province and 90 km from the nearby town of Kainantu also in the Eastern Highlands. Wikipedia

Goroka man, Papua new Guinea, by Jimmy Nelson

sing-sing, goroka, stephen dupont

Photography: Jimmy Nelson

Asaro Mudmen of the Goroka people Legend tells that the Goroka were almost eliminated by their most feared enemy tribe and were forced to flee into the Asaro River. They waited until dusk before attempting to escape. As they hid, they used the grey mud of the Asaro to fashion masks with which to disguise themselves. That night, the Goroka men rose from the river and were spotted by the enemy tribe who, upon sighting the naked grey-white men, believed they were witnessing living spirits and fled to their village in fear.  The Asaro now perform this ritual to ward off their own evil spirits, creating grotesque masks made with animal jaws and teeth, claws and horns, sculpted from the rivers’ mud. They add sharpened bamboo sticks to their fingers as elongated claws. The mudmen prowl through the jungle at night, casting fear and trepidation into any spirit or neighbouring tribe who sees them.

#Culture