Local Knowledge and Development. The Case of the Eipo, Mek Group of Cultures and Languages

Wulf Schiefenhövel

Max-Planck-Institute Andechs and Munich University

10,000 Years in a Life Time“ is the title of Albert Maori Kiki’s fascinating biographical account, published in 1968. He became one of the most influential political leaders in Papua New Guinea. To start from neolithic living conditions and manage the incredible transition from stone age to computer age is what many people in Papua Province are achieving right now as well. In the perception of most  Europeans, this is an impossible task, but 

the Papuan and Austronesian people demonstrate that the human mind, the spirit, flexibility and ambition typical for our species Homo sapiens is, indeed, capable of managing this demanding transition with incredible swiftness.

I will report of fieldwork among the Eipo, member of the Mek cultures and languages,  Pegunungan Bintang. We started, jointly with LIPI, our interdisciplinary project (initiated by Gerd Koch of the Museum for Ethnology in Berlin and funded by the German Research Foundation) in June 1974, walking into the Eipomek Valley from the newly opened mission station and airstrip of Bime. The Eipo tool kit was neolithic, they were carrying out their age-old rituals, fighting their enemies in the Famek valley to the West, trading stone axe blades with their partners across the central range and celebrating impressive feasts. We documented, also on film, their lives from birth to death and were stunned by their excellent knowledge of nature as well as the beauty of their legends and songs. The Eipo were modern models of the past, helping science to understand the human condition, the essence of what it means to be a human.

Around 1980 all Eipo converted to Christianity. This was not so much a decision based on theological deliberations, but a very conscious effort to become part of the new world outside their isolated valley. They had understood that they lived in a kind of time bubble, separated from the rest of humans. They saw the advantages of Western material culture and technology and decided that they wanted to change their lives. All of them were given new names, most of the old religious traditions were given up, the village church (built in 1981) became their new focus of social life. Homicide dropped from a high level to almost zero. After a few years the last missionary left, from then on the Eipo took over all theological, administrative and economic duties. Due to the isolation of Eipomek (access is by walking or by plane only) much of their traditional life has been retained, e.g. gardening, gathering and hunting, clan structure, celebrating feasts etc. No disruptive elements (e.g. cargo cult or similar utopian ideas) have spread to the Eipomek Valley so far, they have, however, affected some neighbouring areas. I have the impression that the Eipo, at least for the time being, have understood that there is only one road to progress: the one through learning. I very much hope that this will remain their attitude in future as well.

Some students have even made it to higher education and study at Cenderawasih University! One young man is being educated as administrator in Jakarta and there are plans to send him to the USA. The first Eipo politician has recently been elected. Surely, a most stunning performance of children born in stone-age conditions.

During visits in 2008 and 2009 we have shown them some of the photographic and film documentation made between 1974 and 1980. All Eipo, especially the younger ones, have a very strong, vivid interest in their old lives. They say that a tree can’t grow without roots and that they want to stay, as much as possible, connected to their traditions. At the same time, they are very serious about their new lives. My plan is to establish a cultural centre in Munggona. It seems that the Eipo will have a good chance to preserve some of their cultural heritage and, at the same time, become modern citizens of Tanah Papua, able to participate in the political decisions necessary to create a good and solid future of this Province which is so rich in biological and cultural diversity.