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In Papua New Guinea, there are many attractions
and special places and things to come and see. These ranges from
the different cultures and languages to top diving locations in
the world. For you to come and experience Papua New Guinea, you
have to come and see for yourself. Below are some of many interesting
things and places to see and know.
LANGUAGES
There are over 800 distinct languages in Papua New Guinea. English,
Pidgin and Hiri Motu are the three most commonly used, but English is the
official language spoken in education, business and government
circles.
POTTERY
The village of Aibom, near the Chambri Lakes, is the only place
on the Sepik to specialise in pottery. Aibom pots are noted for
their relief faces which are coloured with lime. Pottery is also
practiced at Yabob and Bilbil villages near Madang, and among
the Amphlett Islanders of Milne Bay.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Papua New Guinea's art forms are as diverse as they are distinctive.
In a country where language varies from village to village, it
can be expected that artistic expression will differ in style
just as dramatically. Pottery, weapons, carvings, basketwork,
musical instruments produced by different people in different
places, according to their traditional skills and beliefs.
Papua New Guinea artifacts and handicrafts can be purchased from
individual artists and retail outlets in towns and villages. The
Faculty of Creative Arts - UPNG at Waigani also an excellent source
of paintings, pottery and etchings. Artifacts can also be found
for sale at most high schools, teachers colleges and galleries.
BILUMS
Bilums are natural fibre string bags made in most provinces -
although they vary from place to place. They are very strong bags
used for everything from storing food to carrying a baby.
WEAPONS
Most provinces specialise
in different kinds of weaponry. Bows and arrows are traditional
in several areas. Shields have a decorative and spiritual role
just as important as their defensive purposes.
The Chambri Lake carvers in the East Sepik region decorate their
spears to match their masks. Cassowary bone daggers are also found
on the Sepik.
MASKS
Masks in Papua New Guinea are mainly used as decoration. They
are found mostly along the Sepik River, but also in other parts
of the country. The Chambri Lake masks feature-elongated designs
with incised brown and white patterns finished in glossy black.
At Koroga the masks are made from wood and clay decorated with
shells, hair and pig's teeth. Murik Lake masks are almost Mrican
in appearance, and in Maprik they are woven from cane or rattan.
Masks are also carved at Kiwai Island, near Dam on the southern
coast.
BOWLS
The Trobriand Islanders of Milne Bay are famous for their finely
carved ebony bowls. Meticulously polished using a pig's tusk,
the bowls are patterned around the rims with fish or turtle 'figures.
Wooden bowls are also carved in the Siassi Islands and the Tami
Islands, offshore from Lae.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Drums are the principal musical instruments. There are two main
types - the large garamuts made from a hollowed tree trunk and
the smaller kundus which are shaped like an hourglass with a snake
or lizard skin stretched over one end. Other instruments include
bamboo flutes and pottery whistles and jews harps from the highlands.
SPIRIT BOARDS AND STORY BOARDS
In the Gulf Province, Gope boards are believed to possess the
spirits of powerful warriors, or to act as guardians of the village.
Before hunting or war expeditions, the spirits were called upon
to advise and protect the men.
Story boards made on the Keram River, a tributary of the Sepik,
are a modern version of the fragile bark carvings villagers used
to make. The boards illustrate incidents of village life in raised
relief.
BASKETWORK
Buka baskets and trays from Bougainville Island are among the
finest in the Pacific. Coarser baskets are also found in the Southern
Highlands.
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