DKH01-044_punjim - Punjim ‘Hand drum’

This string figure represents a hand drum, or the so-called kundu (Tok Pisin). Hand drums have a great cultural significance for the Awiakay and are, together with decorations, perceived to be an inseparable part of singing, especially in the all-night song/dance cycles (Hoenigman 2015: 197–253). As the Awiakay identify themselves very closely with these songs, hand drums are felt to be part of their identity. When the final design of this string figure emerges, the maker imitates hitting the drum, sometimes adding the sounds. Images: 02: Darja Munbaŋgoapik showing the final design of punjm ‘hand drum’ Hoenigman, Darja. 2015. ‘The talk goes many ways’: Registers of language and modes of performance in Kanjimei, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra: The Australian National University. (PhD thesis.) . Language as given: Awiakay