Mary 2011

These tokatokoi (headdresses) are made by Tolai artists from the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, also known as Gunantuna people. Created by men, the headdresses are customarily brought to life through music and the movement of the wearer.

These examples were modelled on headdresses performed by two different cultural groups at the National Mask Festival in Kokopo, East New Britain, in July 2011. Works by the Vunapaka Cultural Group incorporate human figures that act as spiritual surrogates for important local men at the marawot (gathering site) in iniet (secret society) ceremonies. Headdresses by the Iatapal Cultural Group incorporate the Virgin Mary who, following the introduction of Christianity, replaced a customary ancestral figure. Displayed side by side, these forms represent the coexistent beliefs of contemporary Tolai culture.