Herman Peters

Herman Peters was born in Venlo on 29 April 1923 and passed away in Megen on 20 March 1994. He was a Roman Catholic missionary and cultural anthropologist. After a theological and philosophical training in the Franciscan friars’ minor order, he was ordained as a priest in 1950. He then studied cultural anthropology at the University of Utrecht and at the Catholic University in Nijmegen. He received his master’s degree in 1955 with Henri Th. Fisher in Utrecht. In 1956 he went to Dutch New Guinea as a missionary and was stationed in the Central Highlands,  first from 1957 to 1959 with the Amungè in the Tsingga valley and then from 1959 to 1964 in the Baliem valley. During the last year and a half of that period, he was released from his missionary duties to devote himself completely to his PhD research in anthropology on the Mugogo, Siep-Gosi and Itlai-Hadluk inhabitants of the Baliem valley. He wrote his dissertation during his leave in the Netherlands in 1964-1965 and obtained his doctorate in anthropology in Utrecht with professor Jan van Baal with his thesis “Some chapters from the social-religious life of a Dani group” published in 1965 by Dekker and van de Vegt. It was published in English in 1975 by Lembaga Anthropologi of the Universitas Cenderawasih, Jayapura. After his phd he returned to West Papua and stayed there until 1976. He worked mainly in education for the Akademi Teologi Katolik in Jayapura and returned to the Netherlands in 1976 for health reasons. He died as a member of the Franciscan community in Megen.

During his research period, probably when he did his full-time field research in 1963 and 1964, he had access to a tape recorder and recorded rituals or ceremonies with their songs and interviews with informants. The Papua Cultural Heritage Foundation PACE has 23 tapes of him, of which 2 tapes are only used on one side, Band 13 and Band 23. One tape, Band 1 is filled with western pop music from the period recorded from a radio broadcast and family members, probably cousins at play and the voices of their parents. Another tape, Band 21 side A is about his festive arrival in Venlo at his family home on leave from West Papua in 1964 and on the B side are pop songs recorded from a German radio program “Liebe Freunde der Schalplatten für Junge Leute”. The other tapes were recorded in West Papua –  one tape, Band 12, mainly among the Amungme and the others in the Baliem valley.
He mentions the use of a tape recorder only once in his thesis, for recording a Ganege Hakasin ceremony, in note 2 on page 152: “At my request I was allowed to bring a flashlight and tape recorder. So, I could see everything up close and record the formulas on the tape. The texts were later elaborated with the informants Takalek and Umathako, after which they were checked with the help of two other informants. Here and there the text is unclear, because people spoke very quickly or because there was a lot of noise in the house. The verb forms in particular were often difficult to hear. That is why there will be inaccuracies in the written text. However, with the help of the informants’ comments, the meaning of the text could be rendered quite accurately.”
The tapes are mostly in white-orange Philips empty reel EL 3952 8 cm boxes and on Philips spools except for Band 1 which is on an unbranded reel “made in Japan”. Band 20 and Band 21 are in a blue Philips box EL 3953 DP, which was used for the shipping of spoken letters. On the back of the box it was indicated to the customs authorities that it was a spoken letter in English, French, German and Spanish. There was also space to glue a stamp and two parts were left white where one could put the address and the sender. For Band 20 it is to: “Fam. J. Peters-Faessen. Maagdenberg 53, Venlo” and from: “H. L. Peters OFM Kath. Mission, Wamena, Irian Barat”. For Band 21 the same space is used to indicate what is recorded on the tape: “Arrival in Venlo Sunday”. Band 22 and 23 are in a white-orange Philips box EL 3909, for 10 cm reels and also on Philips spools. The playing speed is 4.75 cm/s. The tapes are 2 channel mono (a and b side) and the duration is on average around 30 minutes, but also shorter like Band 3 around 12 minutes, and longer like Band 1 about 50 minutes and the larger Band 22 and 23 around 60 minutes.
On the boxes of the tapes was written what was recorded on them. Later that was pasted over with a sticker on which the subject was typed, except for Band 22 and 23. On the stickers a reference is often made to the “Scripta by Herman Peters OFM” with a page reference such as with Band 6, pages “10g to 9c”. It is mostly to a descending number of pages except for Band 14 where reference is made to pages “4a to 4b”, Band 11 “to page 9” and Band 13 “to end”. Until now the scripta have not been located, but one can assume that they are the transcribed and possibly translated versions of the interviews. On 3 tapes it is indicated when they were recorded, that is Band 2 on 1-1-1964, Band 3 around 1964 and Band 12 19643, which could mean 1963-1964 or March 1964.
The indication of the subjects on the boxes of the tapes usually corresponds to important parts of his thesis. Although there are spelling problems, for example with Band 9 where “oa Atov” is indicated while in the dissertation on page 160 and beyond Peters talks about Atou. On band 10 “Wam Oat Palim” is typed while it is actually Wam Oat Balin. On Band 11 “Jogal Isiin” is typed while in the dissertation it is called “Jogal Isin” on page 124 and beyond. On Band 22 is written “Wim ganege hasin Wajitna” which probably refers to a “Wim ganege hakasin” ceremony in the village of “Wajatma” from September 4 to 6, 1963, see page 58 and further of the thesis. The handwriting on the boxes is rather hard to read and the person who typed the stickers may have struggled with that as well, although it doesn’t explain why Band 22 has a different spelling.
Peters writes on page 20 of his thesis: “In the case of the Itlai-Hadluk, the time of investigation was about a year, that is from April 1963 to April 1964. By a very fortunate combination of circumstances, I was invited by one of the main war figures in this group, Takalek, to live in his village Anelakak. He himself and his son Umathako became my best informants there.” They are also regularly mentioned and quoted in the dissertation. It is to be expected that they will also have an important role as speakers on the tapes.
The tapes listed below are part of the audio collection of the foundation PACE Papua Cultural Inheritance. For more information or any messages or correspondence contact huublems81@gmail.com or srgales@ziggo.nl.

Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep

Band 1

Ap Watek

Tape from Herman Peters. Children playing, imitating sounds and a woman singing, probably cousins living in Amsterdam. On side B are popular songs in English, German and French from the early sixties recorded from the radio.
On the cover it says Ap Watek in Wajatma which suggests it has to do with his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The thesis has been published in English under the title : “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.
At Watek means killed or dead human and is also the name for the war trophies which are taken from dead enemies: spears, bows, arrows, decorations, a piece of hair, and are kept in a house for trophies, the ap watek-ay, in the village of Wajatma in this case. During a Wim ganege hakasin they are greased with pork fat. See page 85.
To listen to this tape contact PACE at the email addresses above.

Side A is 52’23 and Side B is 50’51

Band 2

Ganege Hasim

Interview recorded on 1-1-1964 by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and deals with the Ganege, the sacred stones of the ancestors as described in his thesis on pages 89-101 and pages 151-160. The thesis has been published in English under the title : “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 27’29, Side B is empty.

Band 3

Hae Hu Kulim.

 

Recording of the ritual and the songs which belong to the initiation ritual. Recorded by Herman Peters and described in his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965 on the pages 134-148. He describes that he was present at two initiation ceremonies in January 1963 in the village Wajatma and in November 1963 in the village Hetogolek.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

The A side of the tape is 11’25 and the B side 12’30

Band 4

Wim Ganege

 

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and is on different subjects, which as indicated on the cover are Wim Ganege, Moklat, Atov, Dlametla Loim, hermaphrodite, enemies among themselves, and hodlak balim. Wim Ganege is described in his thesis on pages 89-101 and pages 151-160. Moklate is probably a misspelling of Mokhat, the spirits: see page 81-84, Atov of Atou, spiritual power, see pages 160-164, Diametla loim and the hermaphrodite are not in the thesis; for enemies among themselves see p. 79 and further; hodlak is the term for an unmarried girl see pages 41-43.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

The A side of the tape is 36’11 and the B side 36’10

Band 5

Diversen

 

A tape which is called diversen (various) on the cover and contains a ritual or ceremony with women singing on the A side and men on the B side. The tape was recorded by Herman Peters OFM in the Baliem Valley in West Papua for his anthropological research that resulted in his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. It was probably recorded in 1963-1964. On the B side from 22’36-25’32 there are some remnants of earlier recordings of radio broadcasts in Dutch. Many songs but not all are terminated they reach their end, not an unusual habit when one had limited access to tapes and electricity.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

The A side of the tape is 40’02 and the B side is 38’16

Band 6

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Blz. 10g tm 9c

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language. On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM pp. 10g to 9c. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 33’57 and side B is 33’50

Band 7

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Blz. 13c t/m 10f

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language, although a few words are said in Dutch. They talk about land, agriculture, ditches and cuttings but also on other subjects such as family relationships. On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM pp. 13c to 10f. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’06 and side B is 32’10

Band 8

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Blz. 14c3 t/m 13c

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language, although a few words are said in Dutch. In the background you can hear people working from time-to-time. Among other things they talk about warfare and cursing. On the cover is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM pp.14c3 to 13c. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has also been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 33’50 and Side B is 33’53

Band 9

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM o.a. Atov Blz. 16a t/m 14 c3

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language. Among other things they talk among about Atou, spiritual power, see pages 160-164. Atou is probably misspelled as Atov on the cover. Also on the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM pp. 16a to 14c3. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has also been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’10 and Side B is 34’05

Band 10

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Wam Oat Palim t/m blz. 16a

Interview and ritual recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The tape was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language.
On side A: part interview, part ritual with two short excerpts of western classical music; on side B interview with 4 short excerpts of European music. The ritual has to do with the Wam Oat Balin on the cover, misspelled as Wam Oat Palin. It is a ceremony which is connected with the large pig feast and during the ceremony the warriors are honoured with pieces of pork meat, especially the warrior who first speared an enemy. Also given pork meat are the warriors who were hurt, the men who carried the death and wounded from the battlefield, the men who cut the wood for the funeral pyre and the men who put the corpse on the funeral pyre. It is extensively described on pages 128-133. Other topics are abortion, deformed children and the classification of people according to age.
On the cover there is also a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM to page 16a. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 33’10 and Side B is 33’12

 

Band 11

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Jogal Isiin t/m blz. 9

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is Jogal Isin. On the cover of the box of the tape is written Jogal Isiin. It is a ceremony in which a girl is dressed in a skirt for grown women and she changes her position in society. It is usually followed by marriage. The ceremony is extensively described on pp. 118-128. There are 4 short excerpts of classical music and the sounds of insects in the background on side A, and 6 short excerpts of classical music, the sound of an airplane and sounds of birds in the background on Side B.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM to page 9. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 33’43 and Side B is 33’47

Band 12

Zang en dansen van de Amungme

Songs, dances and parts of a Catholic church service with the Amungmè. Side A starts with a series of short excerpts and long silences, then at 2’10 a sermon part of a church service followed at 3’47 by a series of traditional songs. At 13’55 an interview follows. Side B starts with a series of short speeches in Bahasa which are connected with Christian belief, then at 3’51 there is part of an interview, at 5’35 a series of Christian speeches, at 10’12 interview, at 15’37 again a series of short speeches, from 17’20- 17’49 some excerpts and silence, after 17’49 Christian speeches, at 19’31 an interview. As the tape was recorded at two different speeds, it could have been recorded at two different places and occasions. Herman Peters was first stationed among the Amungmè in the Tsingga and Noemba valley from 1957 to1959 and then transferred to the Baliem valley from 1959 to 1964. The interviews could be from the Baliem Valley, while the songs and the sermons could be from the Amungmè. See “De eerste vestiging van de katholieke missie in de Tsingga- en Noemba-vallei : dagboek van Herman Peters ofm over de periode maart 1957 – juni 1959” from Bob Schijns and Herman Peters, published Utrecht, 2003. On the box is indicated that the tape has been recorded 19643 which could mean 1963-1964 or march 1964.

Side A is 19’31 and Side B is 21’05

Band 13

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Lugage Isasin Blz. tot eind

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is Lugage Isasin (sini). In the thesis Sini isasin is mentioned as a ceremony involving specific kinds of grass which are put in a stewing pit while preparing pork meat, kinds of potato and vegetables. The amount and the way in which the grasses have stewed is seen as indicating the future. It forebodes the number of enemies or own people who will be killed in the war. See pages 92-93, 99 and 167.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM: page, till end. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 24’53 and Side B is empty

Band 14

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Lijkverbranding Blz. 4a t/m 4b

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is funerals and cremation using funeral pyres and the habits around these happenings. See pages 68, 83, 104-105.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM, pages 4a to 4b. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has also been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 30’26 and Side B is 33’16

Band 15

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Oorsprong van de mens Blz. 6c t/m 4a

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is on the origin of human beings. The story is that the first humans came out of a hole in the earth with the help of the sun. See pages 164-167.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview as the scripta of Herman Peters OFM, pages 6c to 4a. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 33’25 and Side B is 33’27

Band 16

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Clan-combinatie Blz. 7c t/m 6c

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is on clans and their alliances. See pages 56-60; the subject is mentioned and of importance on other pages too which deal with all kinds of ceremonies and habits.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM page 7c to 6c. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’25 and Side B is 28’12

Band 17

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Wam Silo Pin Blz. 8l t/m 7b

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and the subject is on Wam Silo Pin. In the thesis he talks about Wam Silo Hin or the ban on slaughtering of pigs. See p 117. Wam is a pig, silo is a prohibition sign and hin means to place or put. On the side A there is a mention of the American anthropologist Karl Heider who was doing research at the same time in the Baliem valley among the Wilil-Heiman. In the background one can hear sounds of the environment.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM, pages 7c to 6c. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’35 and Side B is 34’35

Band 18

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Blz. 8e t/m 8l

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language. Sometimes one can hear the sounds of animals and other people in the background.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM, pages 8e to 8l. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’10 and Side B is 34’08

Band 19

Scripta van Herman Peters OFM Blz. 9c t/m 8d

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language. Sometimes one can hear the sounds of animals and a bell in the background.
On the cover there is a reference to what is probably the typed-out interview in the scripta of Herman Peters OFM, pages 9c to 8d. Until now the scripta have not been located.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 34’23 and Side B is 34’23

Band 20

Diversen

A ritual or ceremony recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The ritual or ceremony was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. During the ceremony one can hear pigs, people talking, songs, and the sound of brabches rattling. Sometimes there are microphone disturbances from the wind and movement of the microphone. The subject, Various, is indicated on the cover.
The tape is in a box for shipping it by post. On the back side of the box the destination address of Herman Peters’ family in the Dutch town of Venlo is written, and the sender is given as Herman Peters, Catholic mission, Wamena, Irian Barat.

Side A is 35’38 and Side B is 36’08

Band 21

Diversen aankomst Venlo

A tape of Herman Peters in which on Side A one can hear his festive arrival on a Sunday probably in 1964, when on leave in his home town and family house, accompanied by a brass and drum band, the board members of the neighbourhood societies, a local priest and members of the family, while a number of people are awaiting him. We can hear speeches of welcome and singing children at his family home and then the scene moves to the local youth house where refreshments are taken. On side B are radio recordings from the German broadcast ““Liebe Freunde der Schalplatten für Junge Leute”” with popular songs from that time by James Last, Louis Armstrong, Cliff Richards, the Dave Clark Five, Shirley Bassey, Floyd Cremer, the Searchers, and the Rhythm Kings. At the end one can hear soft voices talking.
The tape is in a box for shipping it by post. On the back side of the box the subject is indicated.
To listen to the B side of this tape contact Pace at the email addresses above.

Side A is 37’21 and Side B is 34’22

 

Band 22

“Wim ganege” Hasin Wajitma

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and deals with the sacred stones of the ancestors as described in his thesis on pages 89-101 and pages 151-160. In between, some words are said in Dutch. On the cover, after “wim ganege’ hasin wajitna is also added. This could be a reference to wim ganege hakasin in the village of Wajatma where Herman Peters observed the ceremony on 4-6 September 1963.
The tape is 10 cm in diameter and is larger than the usual 8 cm ones that Herman Peters used.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 103’12 and Side B is 57’35

Band 23

Wam wagunoak wasin

Interview recorded by Herman Peters OFM for his thesis “Enkele hoofdstukken uit het sociaal-religieuze leven van een Dani-groep” published by Dekker and van de Vegt, Utrecht, 1965. The interview was recorded in 1963-1964 in the Baliem Valley in West Papua. The interview is in the local language and deals with wagun-oak or the slaughtering of pigs to stop excessive rain in the area of the Siep Gosi in the spring of 1964. There is a relationship with the wagunmo, the place where the spirits of the dead Siep-Gosi stay. It is a small remote square house in the forest or between the reeds in which gourds for the spirits of the initiated and bundles of grasses for the spirits of the non-initiated are hanging. See page 73. Also indicated on the cover is hathale, of unknown meaning, lejukmo a village of the Itlai-Hadluk and segan balin, making fire with a fire-saw. It is practised the day after the jogal isin, when girls get the skirt of a woman as described on pages 124-125
The tape is 10 cm in diameter and is larger than the usual 8 cm ones that Herman Peters used.
The thesis has been published in English under the title: “Some observations of the social and religious life of a Dani-group”, Jayapura Lembaga Anthropologi Univ. Cenderawasih, 1975.

Side A is 64’06 Side B is empty