Girls dance topless, only wearing red grass skirts, and flower pollens. Dances always take place after lengthy make–up ceremonies. Dancers put a mix of coconut oil, mint and lemongrass on their bodies. I thought they were preparing food.
In fact, it was for make–up! I was then invited to join the circle of dancers who then took a sadistic pleasure in making fun of my hairy legs. I had no hope with the girls here though because they don’t like white skin and hair — something they see as a sign of ugliness and scruffiness. The dim dim (the white man) is not their embodying ideal.
Trobiand islanders have a very free sexuality before and even after marriage !
Girls learn to control their contraception very early, virginity before marriage has no importance at all . If a girl gets pregnant her family keeps the « babu According to the local customs, men just help to open the woman who is supposed to be infused with a « Baloma » spirit provoking the pregnancy. Western education changed the point to view of some islanders, but not all of them. Relationships of married couples have not a lot in common with our culture : here a man is supposed to give presents to his wife in return for the sexual favors she provides him.
Trobriand Islands (aka the Kiriwina Islands) ,off the eastern coast of Papua New Guinea in Milne Bay Province.
© Eric Lafforgue
www.ericlafforgue.com 