An example of face painting
A Dying Trade
I am curious to know if things are changing with modernization and influence from the outside world. After all, the resource development projects going on in Tari at the moment are set to open the region up.
On the other hand, a look at the primitive way of living here in Tari makes me think that changes won’t occur or impact the locals till at least a few decades later.
Kupunu responds with a sigh, “In the past, I received 20-30 students each term, but now I only get 10 or less. People prefer to go to public schools these days. They want different things now…”
Kupunu responds with a sigh, “In the past, I received 20-30 students each term, but now I only get 10 or less. People prefer to go to public schools these days. They want different things now…”
While normalizing education is definitely a good thing for the Huli people, I can’t help but feel empathy for Kupunu. I wonder how long more his wig school – and most importantly, this wig-growing tradition – will live on for. Regardless of that, I’m sure these Huli wigmen will continue casting a magic spell on those curious enough to visit Papua New Guinea for a long time to come.