There is a population of 70,000 tribesmen in Papua, New Guinea (a part of Indonesia) called the Asmat. They live in the swampy jungles along the southwest coast. They have only recently started interacting with the outside world, and so have maintained many of their ancient tribal customs. They are world-renown for their wonderful wood sculpture and have influenced many Western artists including Chagall, Picasso and Matisse. A little known fact is the emergence of replica Azmat jewelry which is widely sold at some of the best top jewelry stores.
The Asmat are a nomadic people. There homeland contains various swamps and rainforests. Their diet consists largely on sago palm, fish and game. Since they live on land that is constantly flooded, their dwellings are typically raised a few feet off the ground to keep them dry. Some Asmat even live in treehouses.
The Asmat culture is one that venerates ancestors, especially warriors. They express this ancestral worship by producing commemorative wooden carvings that are featured in museums around the world. Their art has generated much interest in their history and culture. We know that Asmat men take multiple wives, including the widows of relatives. Some reports of long-term homosexuality, called “mbai”, have surfaced but are not confirmed. Another interesting practice is a form of wife-swapping called “papits”.
Although modern interactions with the Asmat commenced in the 1950’s, they were first sighted in 1623 by the Dutch trader Jan Carstensz. Contact was first made by Captain James Cook in 1770. The contact was brief and uninformative. Another attempt was made in 1836 by the Dutch explorer Kolff, but was rebuffed. The Dutch, who had gained control of the island in 1793, did not start a systematic exploration until the early 20th century. They mounted expeditions from their outpost in Merauke and gathered some interesting wooden artifacts that caught the attention of Western artists.
In 1938, a full colonial post was established in the Asmat area of Agats, but only lasted four years due to the outbreak of World War II. The Agats post was re-established in 1953 by Catholic missionaries. Apparently, they were successful in dissuading the Asmat from continuing their customs of cannibalism and headhunting. In the process of converting the Asmat to Christianity, the missionaries adapted native festivals and ceremonies into Catholic practice. In 1958, a difficult two-year expedition up the New Guinea coast was mounted and documented. The Academy Award film “The Sky Above, The Mud Below” depicts the two-year ordeal. Then, in 1961, Michael Rockefeller was lost on an art-collecting expedition in the Asmat territory.
After a brief period of suppression, the Asmat were encouraged to revitalize their woodcarving tradition, and the Church even sponsored woodcarving competitions. In 2000, the Asmat formed a political party, the LMAA, to represent its interests, especially with regard to protecting their ecosystem. In 2004, the Asmat region became a separate governmental administrative unit with its own elected leader.