Wigmen of Papua

pp. xiii, 104 illusts First Edition #0820 ISBN-13: 978-0701605773

Renowned warriors, the Huli men have one surprisingly soft side – an obsession with their hair. The Huli, also called Huli wigmen, are known for their intricately decorated woven wigs made from their own hair. The wigs represent symbols of their maturity, a custom shared by their neighbours, the Duna, and by some tribes in Enga and Western Highlands Provinces. The wigs are decorated with everlasting daisies, feathers of the bird of paradise and parrots, cuscus fur and other materials.

In the Huli tradition, each boy must grow his own wig. Most Huli have more than one wig. Some wigs are used as daily wigs, and some are worn only on special occasions. To grow a wig, the boys enter a “school for bachelors” (“wig school”), reserved for young, virgin boys, where they stay under the guidance of a wig master for around 18 months to grow one wig. During this time, they are forbidden from any physical contact with women. After the graduation, the boys wear the elaborate red hair wig of young bachelors (mandá hare) demonstrating that they have passed into adulthood.