Rituels et identité culturelle iatmul (Vallée du Sépik - Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée)

Abstract

Iatmul Rituals and Cultural Identity (Sepik Valley, Papua New Guinea) by Christian Coiffier In the valley of the Sepik the inhabitants of the village of Yentchen organise for passing groups of tourists a spectacle which the tour guides say is a "traditional ritual". The detailed description of the various component elements of this spectacle show that it is indeed a reflection of the basic institutions of the community, but comparison with real rituals reveals the inaccuracy of the term "traditional ritual". By linking the elements of the performance to three regional myths, however, the author demonstrates that the novel aspects thereof constitute a strategy enabling both the living and the dead to play a role in the perpetuation of the villagers' cultural tradition.