Kaningara tribesmen, who inhabit the Blackwater
river, a major tributary of the river Sepik in Papua New Guinea have a rather
bloody rites of passage ritual. The Blackwater river is infested with
crocodiles and is pitch black in its depths because of the decaying plants.
Kaningara celebrate and revere crocodiles, which serve as a pretext to the
initiation ceremony for young men – skin mutilation to make it look more
reptilian and to emphasize their adulthood.
An ancestor was hunting in a canoe and saw
something in the water, the man dived deep into the water where he spotted a
spirit house and within it lived a crocodile. The man remained
with the crocodile for months learning its secrets and power. When the man returned to his village, he taught his people how to build spirit houses as well as how to cut their skin to
resemble a crocodile. The Kaningara rely on the power and knowledge of the crocodile spirit ever since.
The initiate's dance from dusk till dawn to test strength as well as to bond with fellow tribesmen.
with the crocodile for months learning its secrets and power. When the man returned to his village, he taught his people how to build spirit houses as well as how to cut their skin to
resemble a crocodile. The Kaningara rely on the power and knowledge of the crocodile spirit ever since.
The initiate's dance from dusk till dawn to test strength as well as to bond with fellow tribesmen.
Bloody pictures beneath, please be warned!
