Inside the CrocodileBilum: iconic, hand-made string bag that hangs habitually from some part of every Papua New Guinean’s anatomy.

Traditionally, the string was also hand-made, from strips of leaves or grasses dried and twisted into strong fibres. Commonly retained in its natural ‘biscuit’ shade, or dyed in a variety of colours, the fabric of the bilum is constructed using a looping technique without knots.

IMG_3139

Inside the CrocodileBilum making is both a practical and an artistic skill of women, and nowadays, crochet is sometimes used instead of looping, and bought wool or other coloured yarns are frequently employed with individual touches such as beads or fur introduced into the fabric. While living in Papua New Guinea, I could identify my own everyday bilum by half a dozen tiny white beads threaded into it.

Inside the Crocodile

 

 

IMG_3128

A bilum from the Highlands made with wool and fur from the cuscus (a small marsupial native animal).

IMG_3131

Another Highland bilum made from wool and cuscus fur.

IMG_3119

Bilums from Wamena in West Papua, one decorated with yellow orchid fibres, the other with pig tusks, shells and tufts of cuscus fur.

Jem with the bilum halfway made.
Jem with the bilum halfway made.

In a country where barter and gift exchange are still important, bilums make exceptional gifts: this unique double one was made especially for me by my friend, Jem. She lived in Telefomin, a mountainous area in West Sepik Province, and as was usual in that area, she made it in the natural shade of the bleached fibres.

IMG_3134

Commemorative bilums were made especially for the 15th Pacific Games hosted this year in Port Moresby, the Papua New Guinea capital. Over centuries, many areas and tribes have developed their own distinctive designs and patterns.

IMG_3127

IMG_3118

 

IMG_3140

Inside the Crocodile

It is customary to make men’s bilums with a longer narrow  strap because they wear them hanging from their shoulders. They are also much smaller than women’s bilums, because in Papua New Guinea men carry only their betel nut, car keys and a few kina for an SP beer.

IMG_3145

Inside the Crocodile
Women with bilums loaded with vegetables to sell at the market

A traditional woman‘s bilum has a short, wide handle that fits around her forehead, so that the bag hangs down her back. Her bilum can expand to ten times its ‘resting’ size when filled with firewood, harvested yams and vegetables, and topped with a baby coddled comfortably in a blanket.

IMG_3115waiting to board TalairBut times are changing and many women now wear colourful bilums as shoulder bags and fashion statements.

And not only bags. With classic Papua New Guinean creativity, the basic techniques have been adapted to create gorgeously unique fashion wear for men and women, like the ‘Bilumwear’ exhibited in London in 2009 by Cathy Kata.

For more on this remarkable country read the new travel memoir: Inside the Crocodile: The Papua New Guinea Journals – reviewed here in The Australian, and on Goodreads.

If you are in the UK, get a discount for the print edition direct from Troubador Publishing.

From anywhere else on the planet, there is nearly always a discount at The Book Depository.

Or go to your favourite digital supplier for the eBook.

And don’t miss this colourful, toe-tapping video.

To stay in tune and read some of Papua New Guinea’s own talented writers, follow the wonderful blog PNG Attitude run by Keith Jackson, on twitter @PNGAttitude

Not sure where Papua New Guinea is? It’s part of the ‘dragon’ that sits above Australia.

IMG_1887

Is Your Bilum Bulging?
Tagged on:         

2 thoughts on “Is Your Bilum Bulging?

  • October 25, 2015 at 9:34 pm
    Permalink

    Really enjoyed re-visiting PNG and I wonder if you still have your specially made Bilum bag. Lovely post Trish. X

    • October 26, 2015 at 7:24 am
      Permalink

      Hello George, lovely to see you. Yes, I still have all my bilums, and I sometimes use that special double one, which brings back happy memories. There will be more re-visits later in the week: I’m going to post a series of photographs that are not in the book – it’s official publication date is this week, 28 October!

Comments are closed.