Sharkcallers of Kontu

Author(s)
O’Rouke, Denis
Title
Sharkcallers of Kontu
Publication Type
Audio-Visual Material
Language
eng
Location
Papua New Guinea
Keywords
shark calling rituals Kontu New Ireland
Relevance to ICH Safeguarding
documentation transmission intangible-tangible interface education
ICH Genre
rituals worldview festive events oral tradition
Description
Kontu villagers (New Ireland province) believe that sharks carry the spirits of their ancestors. Through complex ritual acts, shark callers can call the sharks, capture them, and kill them without causing harm. The shark callers trust that the sharks will respond to men who call them under the right circumstances. The shark callers spend days preparing for the ritual, abstaining from sex and eating certain foods, and anointing themselves and their canoes with special herbs. In addition to documenting shark calling, this film considers the social changes that are threatening its continuance.
Publisher
Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies
Place of Publication
Boroko
Date of Publication
1982
Academic Field
anthropology
Community/Ethnic Group
Kontu New Ireland
Contributor
Papua New Guinea National Cultural Commission
Active Contribution
Papua New Guinea, FY 2024
Data Collection Project