What is the Moka ceremony?
What is the Moka ceremony?
The Moka is a highly ritualized system of exchange in the Mount Hagen area, Papua New Guinea, that has become emblematic of the anthropological concepts of “gift economy” and of “Big man” political system. Moka are reciprocal gifts of pigs through which social status is achieved.
What meaning does the Moka have for the Kawelka tribe?
The people in the Kawelka tribe live off of pigs, yams, sweet potatoes, and coffee mostly. Moka are gifts given to members of different tribes that they plan on repaying and are very important to these people. The size of a moka can bring the big man of a tribe fame and success.
Who was Onkga trying to knock down with his Moka gift?
Ongka’s major opponent is Raima. Raima is also competing with Ongka on setting the date for the moka. Nearly ten years ago, Ongka’s tribe (Kawelka) received moka from Peruwa, the ‘big man’ of another tribe in New Guinea, which mainly constituted of 400 pigs and other valuable and luxurious items in certain amounts.
When did Ongka’s hold his big Moka?
Ongka is a charismatic big-man of the Kawelka tribe who live scattered in the Western highlands, north of Mount Hagen, in Papua New Guinea. The film focuses on the motivations and efforts involved in organising a big ceremonial gift-exchange or moka planned to take place sometime in 1974.
When did Ongka’s hold his big moka?
Does moka create alliances?
The moka is an elaborate system of gifts which forges alliances and maintains peace among the tribes.
What is the significance of The Kawelka Moka?
Kawelka tribe accepts the moka as a structure of maintenance of their society in much wider scope. Therefore, moka exchange is one of the perfect examples of Durkheim’s total social fact and proves to work just as well as the other societies that exist today.
How did Ongka’s tribe engage in Moka?
We killed them with spears and axes. Their people were angry, so we gave them pigs to make them feel better” (Ongka’s Big Moka). Therefore, I think that in the case of Ongka’s tribe, they have traditionally been engaged in moka to avoid conflicts and fights with other tribes.
What is the biggest Moka ever given to a tribe?
However, later Ongka managed to accomplish his moka with 600 pigs, 12 cassowaries, 8 cows, 10,000 Australian USD, a truck and a motorbike; the biggest moka ever given (Ongka’s Big Moka). Moka exchange takes place only when a particular tribe decides to give extra of what it has received from another tribe.
What is the history of the Moka in New Guinea?
Raima is also competing with Ongka on setting the date for the moka. Nearly ten years ago, Ongka’s tribe (Kawelka) received moka from Peruwa, the ‘big man’ of another tribe in New Guinea, which mainly constituted of 400 pigs and other valuable and luxurious items in certain amounts.
