Pacific Arts: The Journal of the Pacific Arts Association

In this visual essay, the author documents the Kilenge Nausang masks he photographed in 1977 and 1978 during a Nausang singsing in the Kilenge village cluster of Ulumainge, Waremo, and Saumoi in West New Britain. The Kilenge people describe the Nausang as a giant of extraordinary power, a being with an essentially malevolent character who serves a corrective function. The author also presents his photo-documentation of a Nausang mask depicted on the men’s house (naulum) in Potne, New Britain, as well as the construction of the men’s house.