On August 8th, 2023, I had the pleasure of traveling to Papua New Guinea. This adventure was undoubtedly different from my prior travels, as Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a place unlike any other. The culture, the tribes and the vibe are all unique. I spent just over three weeks in this country having some amazing experiences and learning as much as I possibly could about this largely ignored culture.
My travels throughout this amazing country are documented in six separate posts. You can see Papua New Guinea through my eyes by perusing the posts in the carousel below.
Papua New Guinea inspired me to introduce a new section to my travel blog. Cultural Snapshots will be where I will delve a bit further into certain aspects of the cultures I have encountered during my travels. I hope to provide my readers with a deeper look and first-hand knowledge that you simply cannot get from search engines.
In this Cultural Snapshot, I will be introducing you to the Tambul tribe from the Highlands.
Tambul Tribe
The Tambul were another tribe that I was unable to gather much information on but felt they deserved at least an introductory conversation.
The Tambul people live at the foot of the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea, Mt. Giluwe. There are several distinctive tribes in the district, collectively numbering just over 75,000 people. As they live on the border of Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highland Provinces, their traditional dressing, impressive headdresses, face and body painting, dancing and singing that resembles a war cry is a confluence of cultures from each province.
Bilas
Tambul’s traditional “bilas”, or body ornament, includes an elaborate and impressive headdress made of bright colors and bird feathers. The faces of the men are painted with eye-catching red and yellow stripes, giving them a fearful and warlike expression. Their songs and dances resemble war cries.
Tambul Courtship
The most well-known Tambul tribes are the Yano, Sipaka and Kaniba. The Yanos are well-known for their courtship songs. These songs contain two meanings, one often being sexual in nature. These courtship songs are common among many Highlands cultures. The Kanimba tribe is well-known for its “Box Contract,” a drama that tells the story of Tambul’s first contact with people from the west.
Moka or Tee Ceremony
The Tambul people, like the Melpa I discussed in my last post are well-known for their large “Moka”. A Moka is an ancient method of wealth transfer in which one man gives gifts to another and the latter reciprocates with bigger gifts. As one man may not have enough wealth to sponsor a Moka ceremony independently, he may borrow goods from other clan members. Men gain respect in their community by giving more than they receive. A man’s social status is predicated by how many pigs he owns. A “big-man”, or village chief, is someone who has made a substantial amount of money from pigs.
This is the final post on the wonderful tribes of Papua New Guinea from my August trip. Stay tuned, as I have a repeat trip planned for 2025, God willing.
Next Post: Singapore
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