Bride Price

our 2nd day in Songum we were privaliged to be invited to a bride price ceremony. this was a big deal to me, to be included in an important kastam (custom) right away. these are the ceremonies you see in national georaphic specials or on the discovery channel...

{Bride Price Cargo}

the bride and her sisters dress in traditional grass skirts (purpur) and all the customary bilas (decoration), diwai paint, black hair greese-the works-

then the 2 families begin what can be a very long and heated argument over what this particular woman is worth.

the man's familiy offered pots, chickens, buai (beetle nut), tobacco, bilums(string bags), food, and money.

when the bride's family decided it wasn't enough the community was asked to help out by giving a little money or laplap(cloth) or pans. Then individuals from the crowd go up to the woman and yell at her (this was all done in Sam so we couldn't understand unless they slipped into Tok Pisin). Some of the people, who i assume were inlaws or extended family, would even strike the woman or pull her hair while yelling at her. Our waspapa explained that they were giving her advice...

after the price was settled-a giant feast was served, each family getting a huge basin filled with taro, kaukau, pork, banana, and kumu all cooked into a coconut greese soup. you just take what you want out of the basin and eat it with your hands. it's good eatin.

more on PNG kaikai (food) another post...