Hea sculpture "yena" ·  Papua New Guinea - Washkuk · ID: 3032946

Description

wood, remains of painting with red, brown and yellowed white pigment, stylized human head placed at the top of a long spike, slightly dam., paint extremely chipped off, cracks, on base;
the “yena-ma” festival is the first of the three great ceremonies related to ensuring the abundance and quality of the yam crop. The “yena” represents a spirit or “sikilowas”, which can also be understood as a man’s soul. Man, “yena” and yam are closely bound up in a spiritual and physical relationship: man plants the yam, which feeds the man, who becomes a spirit, which then ensures that the yam grows well and in abundance.

Comparing literature

Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p. 269