The Sepik

Papua New Guinea, a former colony of Australia is now an independent state. With over 700 dialects spoken, a session of parliament can be very confusing !

The proud and aggressive tribes of the Sepic River were largely unknown to Europeans until the beginning of the twentieth century.

Unlike some of the other tribes from the jungle interior whose principal activity is the constant search for food, the tribes of the Sepic are blessed with an abundance of fish and wild sago palms. They have plenty of time to develop complex rituals and social ceremonies. They are well known for their many art forms such as woodcarvings, masks and headdresses.