Papua people are always known for their diversity in terms of their tribes. There are more than 300 tribes scattered around the land. Most of them are not even known to each other.
This diversity leads to many ways of life that are secluded from the people outside. Therefore, their daily lives could shock many people who do not understand.
To make it easier, in this article we have given some examples of people’s daily lives in Papua. It could surprise you, but it is worth reading.
Papua People’s Unique Way of Life
There are three unique ways of life for people in Papua that will be discussed in this article. Some of it is known, and most of it is new to the world. Here they are:
The Tradition of Sending Pregnant Women to the Forest to Give Birth Alone
The Korowai tribe searches for their food mostly by hunting or gathering. They live in a treehouse to avoid any attacks from other parties. The Korowai tribe has long had the tradition of sending pregnant women to give birth in the deep jungle by themselves.
The other thing that is intriguing about this tribe is that they seemed to practice cannibalism in the old days. Even though it has vanished now, it used to become an attraction for tourists. Their way of living has been like that since the 1970s when they realized there were other societies too.
The tribe believes in spirits and reincarnation. They also pay special tribute to the ancestors by having feasts with other members of the tribe. This tribe has a short life span, so the village members have a few elderly.
The Great Artists Tribe
The Asmat tribe is the most well-known tribe of Papua people. They are known for having a good skill set in crafting. The other things known about this tribe are their remarks on cannibalism and their beheading rituals.
The Asmat tribe lives deep in the forest and rivers. They also declare themselves the descendants of God.
Their cannibalism used to show on their hunt. This hunt is for the enemy’s head, especially the enemy’s head, to be eaten to prove their masculinity. Even so, the tribe nowadays is known for its friendliness towards tourists and their skill at crafting wood and decorative accessories.
Their well-known woodcarving products are shields, statues, and many more. The members of the tribe also have skills in stone carving.
The Tribes Who Chopped Their Fingers
The Dani tribe, or usually called Ndani, is one of the tribes living in Papua. They have a certain way of life that attracts many people. The most common thing is that men and women do not wear any clothes on their chests. Women wear skirts made from grass and the men only cover the intimate parts with a penis sheath.
The one thing that could surprise you is the tradition of chopping their fingers as a sign of mourning. This tradition is done by the women in the family after the person has died.
It is not just women; little girls are also being included in the traditions. It might be unusual, but it is their way of life, which we need to respect.
Conclusion
Papua people always give a unique atmosphere to the people who just know them. They are not just unique, they have a certain charm that could awe you on your visit to this place. These three ways of life are just examples of many things we do not know about people in Papua. Let’s learn together to know the best of Papua.
