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The Kaluli People

11/24
The Kaluli People

11/24
The Kaluli People

When the first Westerners ventured into the highlands of Papua New Guinea, they expected it to be entirely uninhabited. They discovered that in fact there where more than a million people living in this area. Even today, the highlands are the most densely populated area of Papua New Guinea.


Cultural traditions
Behind the scenes
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Kaluli traditional dress
Kalulis wear an elaborate traditional costume during festivities. The most impressive element is the headpiece, with its huge fan of white feathers from cockatoos hunted by their ancestors. Tied around the men’s ankles are straps containing seeds, which rattle with every step. The pace is set by the beating of the famous Kundu drums with heads made from the leathery skins of giant lizards. The dancers repeatedly rub their hands over the skin to warm the leather, which improves the sound of the drum.

Kaluli | Mount Bosavi, Southern Highlands province | Papua New Guinea, 2017
Book: Homage to Humanity

03/30
The Kaluli People
