Tambul tribes

Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea

 

Tambul people live at the foot of the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea, Mt. Giluwe. As they live on the border of Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highland Provinces, their traditional dressing, face and body painting, singing and dancing are a mixture of those from these provinces.

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Tambul traditional “bilas” (body ornament) includes elaborate and impressive headdresses painted in bright colours and decorated with bird feathers, their faces are painted in red and yellow stripes giving the men very fearful, warlike expression. Their dances and songs resemble those of war cries.

Most famous Tambul tribes include the Yano, Sipaka, Kaniba, Kulmindi and Yapo tribes. The Yanos are known for their courtship songs, the songs containing words with two meanings, one often sexual in nature. These courtship songs are common in many Highlands’ cultures. The Kanimba tribe is known for performing a “Box Contract”, a real life drama telling the story of Tambul people’s first contact with the Westerners.

Tambul people are known for their big “Moka”, a traditional method of wealth exchange in which a man gives gifts to another man, who reciprocates by giving bigger gifts to that man. By offering more than received, the men gain prestige in the community. As man’s status in the community depends upon the size of his wealth in pigs, the man who managed to amass his wealth in pigs is able to make a large Moka, thereby becoming a bigman (village chief). The men often borrow the goods from their clan to sponsor a big Moka ceremony.

TRIBES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA


Chimbu Tribes

Chimbu Tribes

Eastern Highlands Tribes

Eastern Highlands Tribes

Enga Tribes

Enga Tribes

Foi Tribe

Foi Tribe

Hewa Tribe

Hewa Tribe

Huli Tribe

Huli Tribe

Kalam Tribes

Kalam Tribes

Kaluli Tribe

Kaluli Tribe

Maprik Tribes

Maprik Tribes

Sepik Tribes

Sepik Tribes

Tambul Tribes

Tambul Tribes

Western Highlands and Jiwaka Tribes

Western Highlands and Jiwaka Tribes

FESTIVALS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA


Gulf Mask Festival

Gulf Mask Festival

Bougainville Reeds Festival

Bougainville Reeds Festival

Baining Fire Dance

Baining Fire Dance

National Mask Festival

National Mask Festival

Enga Cultural Show

Enga Cultural Show

Sepik River Crocodile Festival

Sepik River Crocodile Festival

Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture

Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture


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