Papua New Guinea is a country rich in cultural diversity, natural beauty, and historical heritage. Among its many attractions, one of the most unique and fascinating places to visit is the Enga Take Anda Museum, located in the Enga Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The museum is a treasure trove of information, artifacts, and stories that showcase the history, culture, and values of the Enga people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. In this article, we will explore the origins, features, and significance of the Enga Take Anda Museum, as well as some of the other attractions and activities that Enga Province has to offer.
The Origins of the Enga Take Anda Museum
The Enga Take Anda Museum was established in 1993 by a team of anthropologists led by Dr. Polly Wiessner and Mr. Akii Tumu, who had been conducting research on the Enga culture and history since 1974. The museum was built with the support and collaboration of the Enga Provincial Government, the Enga Cultural Centre Foundation, and the local communities. The museum’s name means “House of Values” in the Enga language, reflecting its mission to preserve and promote the values and traditions of the Enga people.
The museum is housed in a large building that resembles a traditional Enga house, with a thatched roof and wooden walls. The building is surrounded by a landscaped garden that features native plants, flowers, and sculptures. The museum also has an art gallery and a workshop where local artists create and display their works, such as sand paintings, pottery, carvings, and masks.
The Features of the Enga Take Anda Museum
The Enga Take Anda Museum has several exhibits that showcase various aspects of the Enga culture and history. Some of the main exhibits are:
- The Pre-Contact Exhibit: This exhibit displays artifacts and photographs that illustrate the life and society of the Enga people before they had contact with the outside world. The exhibit covers topics such as the origin and migration of the Enga people, their subsistence strategies based on sweet potato cultivation and pig raising, their social organization based on clans and alliances, their warfare and peacemaking practices, their religious beliefs and rituals, their artistic expressions and oral traditions, and their environmental adaptations and challenges.
- The Post-Contact Exhibit: This exhibit displays artifacts and photographs that illustrate the changes and continuities that occurred in the Enga culture and history after they had contact with the outside world. The exhibit covers topics such as the arrival and impact of explorers, missionaries, colonial administrators, miners, traders, and developers; the participation and contribution of the Enga people in national events such as World War II, independence, elections, development projects, and social movements; the challenges and opportunities faced by the Enga people in terms of education, health, economy, politics, law, media, and globalization; and the efforts and initiatives taken by the Enga people to preserve and revitalize their culture and identity.
- The Values Exhibit: This exhibit displays wall panels that feature ancient sayings that served as a guide to the morals and values of the Enga society. The exhibit covers topics such as respect for elders, loyalty to clan, generosity to allies, bravery in war, honesty in speech, justice in law, wisdom in decision-making, humility in success, compassion in suffering, gratitude in receiving, responsibility in giving, cooperation in working, harmony in living, faith in God, and hope for the future.
The museum has several exhibits that display various aspects of Enga culture, such as:
- Mysterious stone artifacts: These are ancient stone tools and ornaments that date back to thousands of years ago. They include axes, adzes, knives, scrapers, arrowheads, beads, pendants, and rings. Some of these artifacts have unknown origins and functions, and are believed to have magical powers by some Enga people.
- The great ceremonial wars: The Enga people are known for their elaborate and violent warfare ceremonies, which involved hundreds or thousands of warriors from different clans. These wars were fought for various reasons, such as revenge, prestige, land disputes, or alliances. The museum displays some of the weapons and shields used in these wars, as well as the costumes and ornaments worn by the warriors. The museum also explains the rules and strategies of these wars, as well as their social and political consequences.
- Traditional customs, values, and lore: The museum features a wall with ancient sayings that serve as a guide to the morals and values of Engan society. These sayings cover topics such as leadership, justice, kinship, marriage, friendship, generosity, honesty, bravery, and wisdom. The museum also describes the purpose and significance of various traditional customs, ceremonies, and rituals that are still practiced by some Enga people today. These include initiation rites, pig feasts, bride price payments, mourning practices, ancestral worship, and sorcery.
The Significance of the Enga Take Anda Museum
The Enga Take Anda Museum is more than just a collection of objects and information. It is also a living institution that serves various functions for both the local community and the visitors. Some of these functions are:
- Education: The museum provides educational opportunities for students, teachers, researchers, and tourists who want to learn more about the Enga culture and history. The museum has developed a curriculum based on its research and exhibits that is taught in schools throughout the province. The museum also organizes workshops, seminars, and lectures on various topics related to the Enga culture and history.
- Preservation: The museum preserves the material and intangible heritage of the Enga people that might otherwise be lost or forgotten due to the effects of modernization, globalization, and environmental degradation. The museum collects, documents, and conserves artifacts, photographs, documents, and oral histories that represent the past and present of the Enga people. The museum also supports the maintenance and transmission of traditional skills, knowledge, and practices such as sand painting, pottery making, carving, mask making, weaving, dancing, singing, storytelling, and ritual performance.
- Promotion: The museum promotes the awareness and appreciation of the Enga culture and history among the local community and the wider public. The museum showcases the diversity, creativity, and resilience of the Enga people through its exhibits, publications, and events. The museum also fosters the pride, identity, and unity of the Enga people by celebrating their achievements, challenges, and aspirations. The museum also advocates for the rights, interests, and development of the Enga people by engaging with various stakeholders, partners, and donors.
Other Attractions and Activities in Enga Province
Besides the Enga Take Anda Museum, there are many other attractions and activities that Enga Province has to offer. Some of them are:
- The Enga Cultural Show: This is an annual event that takes place in August and features the colorful and spectacular performances of various cultural groups from Enga and other provinces. The show is a showcase of the traditional dances, songs, costumes, and rituals of the highland people, as well as a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue. The show also includes competitions, exhibitions, and demonstrations of various skills and crafts, such as archery, spear throwing, fire making, pig killing, sand painting, pottery making, carving, mask making, weaving, and gardening.
- The Lyonge Salt Pond: This is a natural salt pond located in the Laiagam District that has been used by the local people for centuries to produce salt. The salt is extracted by evaporating the brine from the pond using wooden troughs and bamboo pipes. The salt is then used for seasoning food, preserving meat, and trading with other communities. The salt pond is also a sacred site where rituals and ceremonies are performed to ensure the fertility of the land and the people.
- The Bird Watching: Enga Province is home to a variety of birds, some of which are endemic or rare. Some of the birds that can be seen in the province include the blue bird-of-paradise, the ribbon-tailed astrapia, the King of Saxony bird-of-paradise, the Stephanie’s astrapia, the brown sicklebill, the superb bird-of-paradise, the crested berrypecker, the tit berrypecker, the yellow-browed melidectes, the black-breasted boatbill, and the mountain firetail. The best places to watch these birds are in the forests around Wabag Town, Laiagam District, Porgera Valley, and Kompiam District.
- The High-Altitude Lakes: Enga Province has several high-altitude lakes that offer scenic views and recreational opportunities. Some of these lakes are Lake Ivae near Wabag Town, Lake Rau near Laiagam District, Lake Surinki near Kompiam District, and Lake Kopiago near Porgera Valley. These lakes are ideal for fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and picnicking. They are also habitats for various wildlife such as wallabies, possums, bandicoots, echidnas, frogs, snakes, and insects.
Conclusion
The Enga Take Anda Museum is a unique and fascinating place to visit in Papua New Guinea. It is a place where visitors can learn about the history, culture, and values of the Enga people, one of the largest ethnic groups in the country. It is also a place where visitors can experience the beauty and diversity of the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The museum is not only a collection of objects and information but also a living institution that serves various functions for both the local community and the visitors. The museum is a place of education, preservation, promotion, celebration, and dialogue. The museum is also a gateway to other attractions and activities that Enga Province has to offer.
References
1: https://www.experienceenga.com/take-anda-museum
2: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/papua-new-guinea/the-highlands/wabag/attractions/enga-take-anda-cultural-centre/a/poi-sig/1068656/362884
3: https://www.looppng.com/tags/enga-cultural-centre
4: https://www.engashow.com/takeanda
5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enga_Province
6: https://www.britannica.com/place/Enga
7: https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/enga-province/
8: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enga_language
9: https://www.pagahill.com/2020/05/11/people-of-the-enga-province/
10: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engan_languages
11: https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/enga-province
12: Google Coordinates: 5°29’40.