In 1998 I had the opportunity to produce a documentary with Rick Steves and Kevin Jacobson in Papua New Guinea. This figurine is a memento from that trip. After two days in the air (Chicago to LAX, LAX to Sidney, Sidney to Brisbane, Brisbane to Port Morsbey, Port Morsbey to Goroka, Paupua New Guinea) I found myself eating a chicken dinner at the Bird of Paradise Hotel.
Our visit to coincided with the annual Goroka Show, the best known tribal gathering and cultural event in Papua New Guinea held every year close to the country’s Independence Day. Tribes from all across the country make their way to the Eastern Highlands for a Sing-sing, which includes dancing naked on the local soccer pitch.
As I dug into my chicken dinner (kakaruk in Tok Pisin) in came a group of Asaro Mudmen. According to Wikipedia, “legend has it that they were defeated by an enemy tribe and forced to flee into the Asaro River. They waited until dusk before attempting to escape. The enemy saw them rise from the muddy banks covered in mud and thought they were spirits”.
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