The Bag of Life
The traditional woven bag of the Papuansknown as the nokencarries more significance beyond its utilitarian function. To the people of Papua, life is nothing without the noken. They take it everywhere with them, to bring back the fruits of their labor in the forest, to carry their babies and as part of traditional rituals. Above all, the noken is a symbol of unity because all Papuans, whatever their tribal origins, consider it an indispensable part of their lives. Yet, this icon of Papua life and culture is gradually disappearing. However, thanks to the efforts of a few people to preserve it, the noken is today recognized as a world cultural heritage. Tempo English reports on the efforts to preserve the noken, following the laying of the foundation stone of the first Noken Museum, in the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura last month.
May 14, 2013
From Papua to Paris
Titus Pekei, a researcher from Jayapura, fought for the noken, a traditional Papuan bag, to be acknowledged as a world heritage by Unesco.
MAMA Juliana, an Amungme woman from West Papua, takes her noken bag everywhere she goes. When Tempo met her on May 1, Juliana had it hung it over her head, the way it is meant to be carried. The bag, made from tree bark, was so big it dangled down to her waist. Though thin, it can hold up to
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