Duk-Duk
Encyclopedia
Duk-Duk is a secret society
, part of the traditional culture of the Tolai
people of the Rabaul
area of New Britain
, the largest island
in the Bismarck Archipelago
of Papua New Guinea
, in the South Pacific.
The Dukduk society uses male duk duk and female tubuan masks. Both types are cone-shaped and are constructed of cane and fibre, with short, bushy capes of leaves. Traditionally the duk duk was taller than the tubuan and was faceless. The tubuan had circular eyes and a crescent-shaped mouth painted on a dark background.
Only males could belong to Duk-Duk, with an entrance fee (in dewarra, small cowrie shells strung on strips of cane), often 100 metres or more.
The society has its secret signs and rituals, and festivals which was in past times closed to strangers on pain of death. Duk-Duk only appeared with the full moon.
Justice was executed, fines extorted, taboos, feasts, taxes and all tribal matters are arranged by the Duk-Duk members, wearing masks or chalk on their faces. In carrying out punishments, they were allowed to burn houses and even kill people.
The society's practice has been dying out since around the start of the 20th century, but Duk-Duk dancers are now featured as tourist attractions.
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
, part of the traditional culture of the Tolai
Tolai
The Tolai are the indigenous people of the Gazelle Peninsula and the Duke of York Islands of East New Britain in the New Guinea Islands region of Papua New Guinea...
people of the Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
area of New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, the largest island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Bismarck Archipelago
Bismarck Archipelago
The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.-History:...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, in the South Pacific.
Description
The society has religious and political as well as the social objectives. It represents a form of law and order through its presiding spirit Duk-Duk, a mysterious figure dressed in leaves to its waist, with a large conical head-dress. Women and children were forbidden to look at this figure.The Dukduk society uses male duk duk and female tubuan masks. Both types are cone-shaped and are constructed of cane and fibre, with short, bushy capes of leaves. Traditionally the duk duk was taller than the tubuan and was faceless. The tubuan had circular eyes and a crescent-shaped mouth painted on a dark background.
Only males could belong to Duk-Duk, with an entrance fee (in dewarra, small cowrie shells strung on strips of cane), often 100 metres or more.
The society has its secret signs and rituals, and festivals which was in past times closed to strangers on pain of death. Duk-Duk only appeared with the full moon.
Justice was executed, fines extorted, taboos, feasts, taxes and all tribal matters are arranged by the Duk-Duk members, wearing masks or chalk on their faces. In carrying out punishments, they were allowed to burn houses and even kill people.
The society's practice has been dying out since around the start of the 20th century, but Duk-Duk dancers are now featured as tourist attractions.
Sources and References
- Duk-Duk and other Customs or Forms of Expression of the Melanesians Intellectual Life, by Graf von Pfeil in "Journal of Anthropology"
- H. Romilly, The Western Pacific and New Guinea (London, 1886)pp 27-33