Geru ceremonial boards

Marie Reay in Papua New Guinea: Exploring Cultures Through Objects

 

Ceremonial geru or spirit boards were worn for the Wahgi Pig Ceremonial called Konggol. Marie Reay described the geru boards in Wives and Wanderers: "These were small boards, about six inches square, which the Agamp decorated with colourful geometric patterns and wore for certain dances of the Pig Ceremonial. They were known by the name of the great spirit concerned with pigs."

Many of the geru boards held by the ANU School of Archaeology and Anthropology date from Marie Reay's first observation of a Pig Ceremonial in the Waghi Valley during her 1953-1955 fieldwork. She wrote:

"At the time of my first arrival, three clans—Konumbuga, Kugika, and Tangilka—were preparing for the Pig Ceremonial. Traditionally a clan would hold this important festival at long intervals, ideally the time casuarina trees planted on the ceremonial grounds take to mature. Kugika clan had held its Pig Ceremonial fifteen years previously. Intervals between the festivals held by some of the other clans suggested that the accession of new wealth with the arrival of Europeans was shortening the interval a clan needed to build up its stock of pigs. The festival required many months of preparation, more months of dancing and display, and finally the climax came in a series of spectacular ceremonies and a mass slaughter of pigs. The central idea of the Pig Ceremonial was fertility—fertility in the clan’s women, pigs, and gardens—and the consequent aggrandisement of the clan as an important, large, and wealthy group."

 

In her notes Marie Reay described the many variations of the geru boards she observed from her 1953-1955 fieldwork:

These are small head boards, mostly about 8' by 6', carved from a white softwood...The geru boards are roughly rectangular in shape, with rounded edges at the top, and terminating at the bottom in two sticks which come down at either side of the head. Sometimes a geru board is arrached [sic] to a bamboo frame which fits closely over the head. These boards are painted, nowadays with trade pain, but formerly with ochres and clays, in geometric patterns. The dominant motif used is the diamond shape which represents the female vulva. Mose [sic] of the designs are variations on this diamond shape, and sometimes a diamond-dhaped [sic] hole is carved in the centre of the board. Triangles, which are conceived of as half diamonds, chevrons and dots are arranged in parallel lines."

 

Marie Reay continued to work in Papua New Guinea in the Waghi Valley for many years, and it is likely that some of the photographs below are from later pig ceremonies that she observed, as most are undated.

Geru wi Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley (formerly Western Highlands Province), Papua New Guinea. Made by Teibakl, for his own use in last stage of the pig ceremony.

Geru wi Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley (formerly Western Highlands Province), Papua New Guinea. Made by Teibakl, for his own use in last stage of the pig ceremony.

Man wearing geru board [ANUA 440-1190-30b]

Man wearing geru board [ANUA 440-1190-30b]

Kibe geru Spirit Ceremonial Board, Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Marie Reay received this from Mogumbe, a young girl from Kugika Clan. Board made by Tuna, Mogumbe's father, for her to hold during Kibe kaamp ngol

Kibe geru Spirit Ceremonial Board, Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Marie Reay received this from Mogumbe, a young girl from Kugika Clan. Board made by Tuna, Mogumbe's father, for her to hold during Kibe kaamp ngol

Man in ceremonial dress holding bow and geru board

Man in ceremonial dress holding bow and geru board

Marie Reay received this from Kauna, young girl from Kugika Clan. The board was made by Ambug-Mani for himself to wear in his tangket during pig ceremonial. It was given to Kauna after the ceremony to be worn by her as a penem ornament the same day.

Marie Reay received this from Kauna, young girl from Kugika Clan. The board was made by Ambug-Mani for himself to wear in his tangket during pig ceremonial. It was given to Kauna after the ceremony to be worn by her as a penem ornament the same day.

Man wearing headdress featuring geru board [ANUA 440-1191-001]

Man wearing headdress featuring geru board [ANUA 440-1191-001]

Made by Tagba, of the Kugika Clan, for himself to wear in his tangket for geru mbugu ceremony and later fastened to Mbolimngar at Kondambi.

Made by Tagba, of the Kugika Clan, for himself to wear in his tangket for geru mbugu ceremony and later fastened to Mbolimngar at Kondambi.

Two men wearing ceremonial dress with geru boards [ANUA 440-1198]

Two men wearing ceremonial dress with geru boards [ANUA 440-1198]

Kibe geru Spirit Ceremonial Board 1955, Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea From Pagna, Kugika Clan. Board made by Kumban (Pagna's father) for Pagna to wear in his tangket during Kibe kaamp ngol.

Kibe geru Spirit Ceremonial Board 1955, Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea From Pagna, Kugika Clan. Board made by Kumban (Pagna's father) for Pagna to wear in his tangket during Kibe kaamp ngol.

Men in ceremonial dress, one holding a geru board [ANUA 440-1198]

Men in ceremonial dress, one holding a geru board [ANUA 440-1198]

Geru Ceremonial Board 1955, (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Board made for holding in hand during pig ceremony.

Geru Ceremonial Board 1955, (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. Board made for holding in hand during pig ceremony.

Man in ceremonial dress holding bow and geru board [ANUA 440-1194]

Man in ceremonial dress holding bow and geru board [ANUA 440-1194]

Kibe kong geru Spirit pig Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. This board was made by Wamdi, of the Kugika Clan, for his small son Mek to wear during pig ceremony.

Kibe kong geru Spirit pig Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint) from the Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. This board was made by Wamdi, of the Kugika Clan, for his small son Mek to wear during pig ceremony.

Two boys in ceremonial dress holding geru boards [ANUA 440-1194]

Two boys in ceremonial dress holding geru boards [ANUA 440-1194]

Penem geru Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint, fowl feathers) Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. This was made by Tagba, of the Kugika Clan, for his son Mek to hold during the pig ceremony.

Penem geru Ceremonial Board 1955 (wood, paint, fowl feathers) Kugika Clan, South Wahgi Valley, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea. This was made by Tagba, of the Kugika Clan, for his son Mek to hold during the pig ceremony.

Two men wearing ceremonial dress with geru boards [ANUA 440-1198]

Two men wearing ceremonial dress with geru boards [ANUA 440-1198]

Two men in ceremonial dress holding spears, one holding geru board [ANUA 440-1198]

Two men in ceremonial dress holding spears, one holding geru board [ANUA 440-1198]