Sepik Coast exchange
In this article, we will explore in detail the topic of Sepik Coast exchange, a topic that has captured the attention of academics, experts, and hobbyists alike. With an in-depth approach, we will analyze the different facets related to Sepik Coast exchange, from its origin to its impact on today's society. Throughout these pages, we will examine the different perspectives and opinions regarding Sepik Coast exchange, as well as its evolution over time. Through exhaustive research and the collection of relevant data, we will delve into the ins and outs of Sepik Coast exchange with the aim of providing our readers with a complete and enriching insight into this topic.
Sepik Coast exchange is the method of social networking and alliance in the Sepik Coast area of Papua New Guinea.
Families living along the Sepik Coast in northern Papua New Guinea form alliances with families in other communities. Depending on the importance and status of the family, it can have anywhere between 5 and 75 contacts in its social network. In each surrounding town, the family knows another. When they travel to another town, they bring gifts to their contact family, and that family will house and care for them. Gifts are reciprocated when given or later when families return the visit. Common gifts are sago, tobacco, baskets, wooden bowls, and other similar items. The recipient does not specify which type of gift they would like to receive, but as a result of the vast quantity of exchanges taking place, the needs of participants are generally met.
A social field is one in which all the members have similar expectations of each other. In the social networks of the Sepik Coast, the significant expectations are hospitality, gift giving and reciprocation from friends in different villages. Alliances are passed along and preserved through many generations, because fathers bring their sons on their trips and families honor an association, no matter how long it has been since the last gift exchange.
See also
References
- Welsch, Robert and John Terrell.
- 1998. "Material Culture, Social Fields, and Social Boundaries on the Sepik Coast of New Guinea". In The Archaeology of Social Boundaries. Miriam Stark, ed. pp. 50–77. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
