Lifestyle & Culture

Nothing like a highlands mumu. A mumu is a traditional method of cooking food, especially vegetables and meat, in an earth oven. An earth oven is made by digging a hole in the ground which is then powered by hot stones which are usually taken from riverbeds nearby. The process may take hours depending on the quantity of food that is being cooked. This particular style of mumu is most common up in the highlands of PNG. This deliciously yummy and mouth watering mumu was prepared in the small remote village of Hapatoga in the Unggai-Bena district (Lower Bena) of Eastern Highlands Province. It was a gathering of the Samogo tribe from the small community of Yasigosale Amigele or simply, just AMIGELE. "The occasion is to mark the first step to a bride-price ceremony known as 'Changing of Kolos" which is quite popular in the Eastern Highlands. We change "Kolos" of a bride to tell the public that she is going to be married soon or more precisely, it is a traditional way of showing/telling the public that she is now engaged and soon to marry." *kolos is the Tok Pisin word for "clothes" Disclaimer: Photo belongs to Gendi Noibano