Forge film 06A - Female initiation: rituals to mark first menstruation

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Young woman is carried on the back of another woman, out of ceremonial menstrual hut, following her first menses. She is carried to a river and washed by other girls and women. Children play in the water, rhythmically beating the surface. 2:55 -- In front of a house, a man stands with displayed shell rings. Young woman (same who had emerged from menstrual seclusion in earlier scene), exits house wearing bead necklaces and other decorations. She carries several cigarettes on a frame and smokes one, smiling at camera. 4:00 -- She sits on mat in front of a house. Other women approach and drape her with necklaces. They apply red paint to her hairline and face. A stack of shell rings is pushed onto her arm. 5:53 -- Men in village clearing, sitting and chewing betel nut, smoking. Closeups of several men. Woman cuts strips of bark. 6:48 -- Man adjusts piles of small yams. Man walks slowly in clearing where yams are piled, carry spears and speaking. He wears ornament with small carved mask on his back. 8:16 -- Men and women walk away from yam distribution, carrying yams. Good view of houses.

• circa 1963

• Forge, Anthony

Located in Series 10) Audiovisual Materials, subseries B) Films.

This digital sound file was recorded from original audiotape in the Anthony Forge Papers (Box 44).

Color film, 16 mm, silent

• East Sepik Province (Papua New Guinea)
• Melanesia
• Oceania
• Pacific Islands

• Abelam (Papua New Guinean people)
• Ceremonial exchange
• Children
• Initiation rites
• Jewelry
• Menstruation
• Play
• Shell money
• Smoking
• Swimming
• Teenagers
• Women
• Yams

• video

Online finding aid

• Anthony Forge Papers

• UC Regents

[Title, Date]. Anthony Forge Papers. MSS 411. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego. [Digital Object URL]

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2021-11-16