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Carving a Culture: The Jiwa Ceremony

isplay of the Jiwa ceremony. Two Asmat men are setting up three full-body woven masks. Around them sit other Asmat artifacts such as drums and arrows.

The Jiwa Ceremony

In the Jiwa ceremony, adult male tribe members wear woven masks designed to represent a recently deceased tribesman. When the mask is put on the wearer becomes the deceased man in the eyes of the tribe. The tribe members will treat the mask wearer as though he is the dead man and will weep and make offerings to him. The mask wearer will visit the house of the deceased man where he will receive offerings from the deceased man's family. At the end of the ceremony the mask wearer is chased out of the village in order to chase the deceased man's spirit from the village and allow him to move on.

Woven body masks that has a grass skirt and sleeves with striped brown and white design on the center.

Woven body masks that has a grass skirt and sleeves with striped brown and white design on the center.

Woven body masks that has a grass skirt and sleeves with striped brown and white design on the center.

Jiwa Masks

Body mask crocheted from strings of twisted bark fiber called "fum". Decorated with feathers, coix seeds, and sago palm fibers.

2001.10.844, 2001.18.043, 2001.18.044a,b The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

Wooden bowl with white interior. On the sides are male and female figures that act as handles for the bowl.

Bowl

Bowl carved out of sago palm wood and used in different ceremonies.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.243 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

carved wooden drums with lizard skin covering the head of the drum

Carved wooden drums with lizard skin covering the head of the drum

Carved wooden drums with lizard skin covering the head of the drum

Drums

Carved wooden drums with lizard skin heads. Drums are the main instruments used in Asmat ceremonies.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.923, 934, 884 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Woven bag with symbolic designs covered with an orange and white triangle and has white feather trim

Woven bag with symbolic designs that has three-rows of seed beads and tassel feathers

Bags

Bags woven from sago palm fronds. Decorated with pigments and feathers, bags are important status symbols for the Asmat. 

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.031, 2001.10.413 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Stone blade ax with decorated handle. The handle has designs of frog legs, jungle fruit, and a hornbill bird’s head.

Axe

Wooden axe handle and stone blade. The bottom tip is shaped like a hornbill head.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.294a,b The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Woven net on rattan frame with vegetal tassels attached.

Fish Net

Large hoop net used by women for fishing.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.565 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Cluster of six bamboo arrows tied together with a rattan strap.

Arrows

Arrows used for bird hunting.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.671a-f The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Carved wooden basket with woven attached traps. The front depicts a man. A band of seed beads and feathers are attached.

Sago Carrier

Container made from sago tree. Lined with coix seed and feather tassels.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.221 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Dark brown wood bow that has a claw attached to the string. Also, there are five bamboo arrows.

Bow and Arrows

The bow and arrow is an important item in the Asmat culture. The men rarely leave their homes without them.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.236a-f The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology

 

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