Heinrich Küper
Encyclopedia
Heinrich Küper was a German
adventurer who lived in the Solomon Islands
.
, Makira-Ulawa Province
, between 1910 and 1950, the year of his death. He was a former officer of the Kaiserliche Marine
who had deserted. During World War I
Küper was arrested by the British
authorities of the Solomon Islands protectorate and was brought to Tulagi
. Very soon thereafter though, he was released after promising that he would not cooperate with the enemy.
Küper was married to a respected and influential local woman, Kafagamurirongo, and was the only aefaka (white) who ever reached the arafa (high person) status within a Melanesia
n community. His first child was born in 1917. Heinrich and Kafagamurirongo had a total of four children, three boys and a girl.
During his life in Owaraha he met ethnographer Hugo Bernatzik
, who wrote a sympathetic report based on his own glimpses of Küper's life. According to Bernatzik, Küper had wholly adapted to the local island culture, which he respected and admired. According to Küper the customs of the Solomon Islanders were full of ancient wisdom, unfathomable to the European visitor, and in harmony (im Einklang) with their surroundings. Therefore Küper mistrusted European influence as a whole, warning local people in Owaraha against certain missionaries
, whom he accused of breaking down the ancestral authority structures and bringing about a moral breakdown, as well as against all Overseas Chinese
traders, for he felt that non-traditional material possessions in the island context promoted greed and brought about conflict.
Even so, Küper insisted in observing Heiligabend (Christmas eve
) at his home every year with great pomp and solemnity, according to time-honored German tradition. Küper's Christmas celebrations in Owaraha included a special Christmas dinner
attended by all islanders in full regalia, with presents for every guest. The meeting place was decorated matching the occasion and included as well a candle-lit Christmas tree
Küper made himself using leaves and branches of local trees.
In the late 1940s Küper opposed the Maasina Ruru
liberation movement and denounced its members to the British authorities who swiftly arrested them. Not long afterwards Küper died in mysterious circumstances.
. Both Geoffrey and his father were interested in ethnography
, contributing with their work to the study of Solomon Island traditions.
Küper had introduced cows to Owaraha and ended up owning coconut
plantations. He was a wealthy person, having added to his wife's wealth. In time the island ended up becoming christianized and opening to the market economy
, Küper's influence having contributed to the prevailing acculturation
, rather than to his avowed goal of the preservation of the traditional culture.
Küper's children have all died, but his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren still live in the Solomon Islands, some in Honiara and others in Owaraha.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
adventurer who lived in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
.
Biography
Küper lived in Gupuna village, OwarahaOwaraha
Owaraha or Owa Raha is an island in the Solomon Islands; it is located in Makira-Ulawa Province.-Description:This relatively small coral island is 5,6 km long and 4, 5 km wide. It is located at the eastern end of Makira , separated from it by a 7,5 km wide strait, and just north of smaller Owariki...
, Makira-Ulawa Province
Makira-Ulawa Province
Makira-Ulawa Province is one of the provinces of the Solomon Islands. The main part of the province is Makira Island. It has a population of 31,006...
, between 1910 and 1950, the year of his death. He was a former officer of the Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
who had deserted. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Küper was arrested by the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
authorities of the Solomon Islands protectorate and was brought to Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
. Very soon thereafter though, he was released after promising that he would not cooperate with the enemy.
Küper was married to a respected and influential local woman, Kafagamurirongo, and was the only aefaka (white) who ever reached the arafa (high person) status within a Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n community. His first child was born in 1917. Heinrich and Kafagamurirongo had a total of four children, three boys and a girl.
During his life in Owaraha he met ethnographer Hugo Bernatzik
Hugo Bernatzik
Hugo Adolf Bernatzik , was an Austrian anthropologist and photographer.Bernatzik was the founder of the concept of alternative anthropology.-Biography:...
, who wrote a sympathetic report based on his own glimpses of Küper's life. According to Bernatzik, Küper had wholly adapted to the local island culture, which he respected and admired. According to Küper the customs of the Solomon Islanders were full of ancient wisdom, unfathomable to the European visitor, and in harmony (im Einklang) with their surroundings. Therefore Küper mistrusted European influence as a whole, warning local people in Owaraha against certain missionaries
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
, whom he accused of breaking down the ancestral authority structures and bringing about a moral breakdown, as well as against all Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
traders, for he felt that non-traditional material possessions in the island context promoted greed and brought about conflict.
Even so, Küper insisted in observing Heiligabend (Christmas eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
) at his home every year with great pomp and solemnity, according to time-honored German tradition. Küper's Christmas celebrations in Owaraha included a special Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner is the primary meal traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. In many ways the meal is similar to a standard Sunday dinner. Christmas feasts have traditionally been luxurious and abundant...
attended by all islanders in full regalia, with presents for every guest. The meeting place was decorated matching the occasion and included as well a candle-lit Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
Küper made himself using leaves and branches of local trees.
In the late 1940s Küper opposed the Maasina Ruru
Maasina Ruru
Maasina Ruru was an emancipation movement for self-government and self-determination during and after World War II, 1945–1950, credited with creating the movement towards independence for the Solomon Islands...
liberation movement and denounced its members to the British authorities who swiftly arrested them. Not long afterwards Küper died in mysterious circumstances.
Legacy
After his death, Küper's fortune passed to his eldest son Geoffrey Küper, who later moved to HoniaraHoniara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
. Both Geoffrey and his father were interested in ethnography
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
, contributing with their work to the study of Solomon Island traditions.
Küper had introduced cows to Owaraha and ended up owning coconut
Coconut
The coconut palm, Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae . It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which is not a botanical nut. The spelling cocoanut is an old-fashioned form of the word...
plantations. He was a wealthy person, having added to his wife's wealth. In time the island ended up becoming christianized and opening to the market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
, Küper's influence having contributed to the prevailing acculturation
Acculturation
Acculturation explains the process of cultural and psychological change that results following meeting between cultures. The effects of acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and...
, rather than to his avowed goal of the preservation of the traditional culture.
Küper's children have all died, but his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren still live in the Solomon Islands, some in Honiara and others in Owaraha.