… bilorum, bilis, bilis.
The Bilum: An indispensable part of life in PNG.
Bilums are string bags, usually hand-made by women throughout Papua New Guinea. Originally, they were made of natural fibres twisted into string, but in more recent times, imported yarns have started to be used and this has enabled women to experiment with a much wider range of designs and styles.
Traditional string bilum, made of natural fibres
Modern bilum, more colourful and more tightly ‘looped’.
The bilum is much more than just a useful bag. It is a cultural icon which has great significance for the people of Papua New Guinea, both culturally, socially and spiritually.
It can be a lady’s handbag, a man’s ‘man-bag’, a shopping bag, a sack for carting vegetables around, even a sling in which to carry your baby and a hammock to lull the infant to sleep. In some parts of PNG, a women would not want to be seen out without her bilum. She would not feel properly dressed!
Although bilums are usually made by women, ( a man would only make a bilum for a particular ceremonial purpose), theys are worn or carried by both women and men. Alongside their purely practical uses, they are important in a range of social, cultural and sometimes ritual circumstances.
The design, choice of colours and style of bilums varies from region to region and even from village to village. People are easily able to distinguish between a bilum made in the Highlands and one made at the coast and many people can trace the origin of a bilum down to a particular district or even to a village. The patterns and colour combinations, the shape of the bag and the size of the strap are all important clues to identify where the bilum was made.
For this reason alone, the bilum becomes a tangible and visible link between the wearer and the village or region from which he or she comes.
For those who leave their native villages, the bilum is a constant reminder of their place of birth, their heritage and the people that they have left behind.
Sandaun is a region of Papua New Guinea. It is in the west of the country. Where else would you have a region called ‘Sandaun”?
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