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Description: | New Britain is the largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, a group of islands to the east of Papua New Guinea. The Uvol people, of whom there are approximately 1200, live in three villages near Cape Dampier in southern New Britain.
About three or four times every year, the 'Sing-sing Uvol' ceremonies take place in one of the three villages. During these ceremonies the women sing songs relating to the various spirits and the men dance, wearing the spectacular Rappau headdresses. After the ceremony, the headdresses are discarded and left to decay and the villagers gather together for a feast.
This headdress was made for a special ceremony that took place in 1983. It represents one of the Rappau, who are friendly spirits said to live on a small, forbidden island called Airo, which lies opposite Cape Dampier.
Melkoy headdress produced in Uvol village.
These headdresses represent benevolent spirits, and form a central part of a grand festival (sing sing uvol) staged by the Melkoy of southwest New Britain every 25 years to mark generational change. This particular headdress represents the spirit Chorir. | Publisher: | http://www.horniman.ac.uk/ | Subjects: | pith Melkoi cane headdresses (clothing: headwear) | Source: | Horniman Museum | Identifier: | oai:oai.horniman.ac.uk:object-76291 |
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