Mapaio village, Purari Delta, Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia
Accession Date:
17 May 2017
Collection Date:
22 Mar 2010
Notes:
Basketry bag, plain weave, all undyed light brown fibers. No fringe. Two braided handles. About half of the bag is spotted with a white substance (dried sago).
Donor notes: [Purchased for] 5 Kina... Oblong plated basket made of shredded mud dyed sago leaves with no design. It has a double handle and short tassels around its mouth. The exterior of the basket has dried sago on it (white substance). Known as a Pu Aika Aika Akeke, this akeke was made for use but has not been used. Used primarily for storing drying sago, this utilitarian akeke can also be used to transport sago. As with other akeke, this bag is only made by women. Similarly, this bag is woven from its bottom up to the bag's opening. The loose ends or beginning of the weave are tied off and the knot held between the weaver's toes during the bag's construction. The handles are plaited separately and later joined. This particular type of akeke is reversible, and to remove the sago the bag's sides are rolled down. This akeke was made, used and sold by Esther Aua Mako (b. ca. 1982; Amanairu clan, Lavi Kaupara, Mapaio Village). The akeke is woven from non-dyed fibers obtained from the leaves of a sago palm. The palm frond is first cut and the leaves stripped into fibers. Only young green leaves are used. The strips are then placed in the sun to dry for one day. The fibers are then pulled off the palm frond's stem and dyed. Once the fibers are dyed they are gathered and a knot made, which the weaver holds between her toes as she weaves the bag. Weaving time takes any where between 2 days to 1 week, depending on the time the weaver devotes to the bag. Regardless of the type of akeke, women only make them.
