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Saw an interesting Anthropology film called, "Ongka's Big Moka: The Kawelka of Papua, New Guinea"
I'm taking an Anthropology course at my university; this film really captured my interest. It's on the borderline of becoming lost media as less of its existence seems accessible, but a few DVD copies still are floating around and a couple of active digital media links.
You can watch a good portion of it here.
The film follows the Kawelka tribe, specifically it's "big man" Ongka (a higher-rank individual within the tribe) as he prepares for a ceremony referred to as the "Big Moka." The purpose of the Big Moka is to gather a decent amount of pigs as a gift for another tribe -- with the sole purpose of pleasing the other tribe.
This practice follows the concept of "gift economy" in Anthropology; a gift economy is when trade is not centered around receiving currency, but rather offering gifts to increase relations / economy. This type of economy is also seen in the Hopi tribe of Arizona, US. In the article, "Ties That Bind" by Peter M. Whiteley, the Hopi tribe is described as, "...[dividing] their work according to gender. Work done by men... is perceived as a gift to the women; work done by women... is perceived as a gift to the men." This allows for little to no wealth inequality within the tribe, since the only currency tends to be through agriculture or pastoralism (a mode of subsistence that involves raising domestic animals in grassland environments using herd and household mobility).
Looking back at the Kawelka tribe, the gift economy doesn't expect anything physical in return, but rather deepens relationships between tribes (offering future mutual protection through alliance), gives more notoriety to the tribe hosting the Big Moka, and increases status of those that offer the most pigs.
The film documents amazing footage of their ceremonies leading up to the Big Moka, including a scene of a funeral ceremony.
Definitely give it a watch if you can!
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⭔𝘥𝟢𝘱𝟥𝘴𝘮𝟢𝘬𝟥𝘳⭔
Toya; superasprodebordante.
I have some questions!
If men work the fields and care for the animals, what do the women in the tribe do? Also, since tribe wars are not so common anymore (it's my guess, though), what do they need the protection and the alliances for? Natural disasters? Big corporations?
Where is this tribe located?
Very interesting and well written read. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
For the Hopi tribe, which is a separate story from Ongka's, the women of the tribe take care of gardening and foraging, as well as own and manage distribution of their households' goods and crops. The men, on the other hand, control the ritual and spiritual aspects.
They were looking to gain legal protection from Anglo and Hispanic settlers who were encroaching on their lands since the Hopi country had been annexed by the U.S. (this is in 1852).
In Ongka's tribe, the women specifically took care of the pigs. This results in men of the tribe having multiple wives, Ongka in particular had five wives, so that they could take care of all the pigs he accumulated throughout the film. In the end of the film, the Kawelka tribe accumulated 600 pigs!
Ongka's tribe is located in New Guinea, which is in Australia. While the Hopi tribe is in the state of Arizona in the U.S.
by alloy; ; Report
I forgot to say -- The Kawelka Tribe that Ongka is in is a very tiny tribe, living entirely off the land. They would be looking for protection from other neighboring tribes, they discuss in the film a specific "enemy tribe" that tried to assassinate Ongka prior to the moka.
by alloy; ; Report
Thank you for the clarifications!
I would have never guessed that tribe leaders travel such distances to meet each other, especially in the past.
I haven't watched the film (documentary?) yet, though.
by Toya; superasprodebordante.; ; Report