11.41 Villagers enact a skit of colonial first contact: an “Australian” patrol officer aims a rifle to subdue traditional warriors |
11.42 A Christian skit of the Second Coming at the Nomad “dramas” for Independence Day. Jesus, in a white crown, is flanked by the Angel Gabriel (just to his right, holding a trumpet). To the right, maidens who have been singing and dancing bare-breasted tremble, die, and are damned to hell for their heathen practices. |
11.43 Skit at Independence Day in which a poor traditional villager (right) asks in vain for medicine to cure his sick son from a well-dressed official (left). The skit enacts tensions of locally modern life. |
11.44 Modern skit at Independence Day of a boy in rags (right) who seeks work in town from an overweight wealthy employer (left). The employer pays the boy a few small coins from his case full of money. In the skit, the youth steals the satchel of money and the employer then shoots his own security guards dead for not preventing the theft. The skit portrays the modern tensions of menial wage labor, envy, and violent response by employers. |
11.45 Gebusi man and woman perform in traditional costume before hundreds of spectators at Nomad Station on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.46 Gebusi initiates process onto the performance area at Nomad Station on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.47 Gebusi initiates and women line up at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.48 A Gebusi man is rated by an official judge holding an umbrella and wearing a Michael Jackson T-shirt at Nomad Station on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.49 Men enact traditional spirit séance singing at Nomad Station on Independence Day |
11.50 Two Bedamini dancers who face each other perform for the multi-ethnic audience at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.51 Mother and child enjoy the various dance performances at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.52 Kabasi dancer standing and singing, Independence Day, Nomad Station, 1998 |
11.53 Kabasi dancer with feathers swaying, Independence Day, Nomad Station, 1998 |
11.54 Kabasi dancer sits and sings, Independence Day, Nomad Station, 1998 |
11.55 Kabasi performer on the following day of the Independence Day festivities. He wears a white shirt and stands with his son at the Nomad ballfield. |
11.56 A boy who is too young to be a first-stage initiate is dressed in yellow initiation costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998 |
11.57 Creative costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man with a cassowary headdress, holding his bow |
11.58 Creative costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man in black face paint a necklace, and chest bands |
11.59 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man with a tall two-tailed headdress |
11.60 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man with a high cassowary headdress twisted around wires |
11.61 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man with a very large plastic "noseplug" strapped to his face |
11.62 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man with a distorted facial costume, wielding an ax in mock attack against the photographer |
11.63 Modern costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Man wearing a blue shirt and red bird-of-paradise feathers mounted on a red hat |
11.64 Costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Two boys dressed in leaves and body paint |
11.65 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Two men caked in red clay with strap-on phalluses and bug-eyes, impersonating corpses. The man on the right has a live snake strung through his nasal septum |
11.66 Unusual costuming at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Two men wear masked costumes of painted bark cloth and strap-on phalluses. They are impersonating corpses. |
11.67 Neo-traditional and modern dancing at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Bare-breasted, middle-aged woman with a flower headdress and body paint dances to disco music from a boombox in the performance competition. The man from her village explained to the crowd, "We have nothing developed in our village, so we can only present you our women for your entertainment." |
11.68 Neo-traditional and modern music at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Two men in neo-traditional costume play electric guitars. |
11.69 Neo-traditional and modern dancing at Nomad on Independence Day, 1998: Two men dance disco. One is in neo-traditional costume, the other wears modern clothes. |
12.8 Villagers listen to string-band singing at the final feast |
12.9 Disco dancing in Gasumi Corners at the final feast |
12.5 Bruce enjoys festivities with two villagers, in mixed costuming, at his final feast |
