Tribal History of Western Highlands
The Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea has a history of tribal groups, cultural festivals, and colonial exploration
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Tribal
Groups
The Western Highlands is home to many distinct cultural groups, including the Kewapi, Enga, Temboka, Hagen, Baiyer, Wahgi, and Jimi people Tribal groups formed alliances with neighboring tribes and defended each other from enemy tribes Traditional clothing and painting were reserved for tribe gatherings called sing sings
The extraordinary skills of the big-men to allocate pork in equal portions to so many people at a mumu place is quite an experience. They always make sure that women and child have something to eat. Only after everyone has received a share, will they eat what ever little is remaining at the mumu place. Men often go without pork when there is not enough to around, in which case, a good-hearted woman might donate her share to the men to share among themselves. Transparency and accountability (good governance) are clearly demonstrated in moka as well as in pork sharing. Contemporary PNG leaders in the National Parliament could learn something from traditional Hagen big-men
Collonial
Exploration
Western zoologists and explorers, such as Mick Leahy and Richard Archbold, visited the area in the 1930s The Western Highlands were not settled by the Western powers during the early colonial period.
Cultural
Festivals
The annual Mt Hagen show is one of the largest cultural events in Papua New Guinea The Western Highlands Cultural Centre features a reconstructed village hut and exhibits of artifacts and curios .
Agriculture
The Western Highlands is home to some of the world's oldest record of agriculture, including stone tools and drainage sites The introduction of the sweet potato had a significant impact on animal husbandry in the area .
Coffee & Tea
Coffee and tea plantations have brought rapid change to traditional lifestyle
Land, People
Histroy & Cultures
The Melpa people of Hagen live in the great valleys (Wahgi, Nebilyer and Baiyer). They have a rich culture, based on early development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, well-developed social structure, and leadership system, based on the great Hagen moka ceremonial exchange system.