Sharkcallers of Kontu
| Author(s) | O’Rouke, Denis |
|---|---|
| Title | Sharkcallers of Kontu |
| Publication Type | Audio-Visual Material |
| Language | eng |
| Location | Papua New Guinea |
| Relevance to ICH Safeguarding | documentation transmission intangible-tangible interface education |
| ICH Genre | rituals worldview festive events oral tradition |
| Keywords | shark calling rituals Kontu New Ireland |
| 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 | |