Papua New Guinea - Elema people - Eharo Masks
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Papua New Guinea - Elema people - Eharo Masks
Elema people (of the Papuan Gulf in southeast New Guinea) practicing an elaborate cycle of masked rituals. These monumental Eharo masks were created primarily for amusement. To the Elema, eharo were " maea morava eharu" (" things of gladness" ), and were danced as a prelude to more sacred rituals. Eharo represented supernatural beings (as well as comedic figures), such as lecherous old men and were made and worn by young men from neighbouring villages (at the request of the village hosting the ceremony). As they entered the village, they were pelted with shredded coconut by the women to neutralize their seductive powers! Now rendered harmless, the eharo danced surrounded by large groups of women to the amusement of the assembled crowd. Date: circa 1920s
Media ID 14395902
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Amazing Beings Ceremonial Ceremony Comedic Drum Elaborate Figurative Guinea Headdress Humourous Mask Masks Monumental Papua Papuan Population Reeds Supernatural Villagers
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