NDUMBA (Papua New Guinea)

 

Index→ Papua New Guinea → Ndumba

More: Arapesh,  Ari, Barano, Baruya, Binim-Kukusmin, Busama, Dani, Darabi, Dobu Isl., Eipo, Etoro, Foi, Gebusi, Huli, Jaquai, Kaluli, Keraki, Kewa, Kiwai, Koko, Kwoma, Lesu, Manus, Marind Anim,  New Britain, New Ireland, Normanby Islanders, Paiela, Sambia, Trobrianders, Vanatinai, Wogeo

 

Bibliography: PNG

 

According to Hays and Hays (1982/1998:p209)[1] sex instruction is given to women is a post-menarche (at age 17 or 18) ritual called nraase, which signals marriageability. “Premarital  [sexual] intercourse is never approved […]”. During boy initiation ceremonies, boys are told that sexual intercourse is only for adult men to engage in, and only for adult men to survive (p214). “The fact that ‘ummanra have little knowledge of sex at their young age [10-12y] may suggest that such stories constitute warnings that are meaningful to them mainly in terms of their severity”. Nettle rubdowns on penes are ‘to make them grow long and have hair” (p215, 219). 

 

 

 

 

 

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Jan 2005

 


[1] Hays, T. E. &Hays, P. H. (1982/1998) Opposition and complementarity of the sexes in Ndumba ritual, in Herdt, G. H. (Ed.) Rituals of Manhood. Berkeley: University of California Press, p210-38