This is Sesep, an elder from Paia Village in the Naiblyer Valley, located in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. The hat, or wig, he’s wearing is made from his own hair. Fashioning the wig is a laborious process. To grow their hair, men follow a strict regimen, including a specialized diet, ceremonial hair washing, and the application of secret herbal tinctures. Once long enough, the hair is collected, teased, and then carefully felted using a pointed stick. The wigs aren’t simply an adornment, they also represent a boy’s passage through the rites of manhood. One of the things that struck me the most about Papua New Guinea was the remarkable craftsmanship. Every village has it’s own distinct artistic and cultural tradition. Unfortunately, as many younger people move out of the villages, some traditions are in danger of dying out along with the older generations.
Taken in 2024, in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea.