The Huli Culture

Not everyone lives how we do, big cities, apartments, jobs and all the “normal stuff”.  Some people still live like we did back when we were hunters and gatherers. There are also many different cultures throughout the world and one of the most interesting and different is Huli Culture. The Huli Clan lives in the Southern Highlands Papa New Guinea. They regard themselves as the descendants of a Male ancestor called Huli. Huli is the first man to garden on the Huli lands. The Huli culture is full of color, rituals, and deep culture. 

    The Huli people have called the mountains and swamp valleys their home for over 1,000 years. The Huli are considered one of the largest groups of people, containing over 90,000 residents. Ambua is the Huli word for yellow clay. This clay is sacred In their culture, as is the red clay, and sets the Huli Warriors apart from the other tribal inhabitants. Unmarried Huli men prepare themselves for adulthood in a unique way. They enter a school for bachelors for a period of between roughly 18 months to 3 years where they receive instruction on the biological and ritual process of masculinization. The young males are separated from their mothers and all women for much of this period and when they aren't, they are absolutely forbidden from physical contact with any female. 

    The Hela Province is the home of the renowned Huli Wigmen. Special magic and a restricted diet help build a boy into a man and make his hair grow strong and fast. Under the guidance of the cult expert, the boy's hair is picked out and periodically splashed with ritual water until it is long enough to be shaped by a circular band of bamboo into what looks like a mushroom of hair. Eventually, this band is replaced by an oblong one creating an effect something like a toreador's hat. Throughout this period the boy sleeps on a headrest that prevents his hair from being squashed. After roughly 18 months the entire coif is clipped off close to the scalp and reformed to create the basis of the renowned Huli ceremonial wig. The perfect place to stay to experience the unique Huli culture in the Hela Province of Papua New Guinea is Ambua Lodge. The local tour guides will give you a chance to experience the unique culture of the Hule people.    

Story by Lily Severance