Tribal dancing, spear ‘battles’ and penis gourds… Indonesia’s rarely seen Dani tribe celebrate cultural festival

THIS amazing collection of photographs give a fascinating insight into Indonesia’s rarely seen Dani tribe, as they celebrate the 27th Baliem Valley Cultural Festival.

Wearing elaborate tribal dress and decorations, every August the Dani wage mock battles with neighbouring tribes, the Lani and Yali people, to celebrate the fertility and welfare of the Papua province.

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The festival is also their way of honouring and upholding one of their most ancient traditions.

The men can be seen dressed in distinctive tribal attire, including face paint, feathers, animal bones and specially designed penis gourds called ‘Koteka’.

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The women of the tribe wear skirts made from woven orchid fibres and decorated with straw, as well as carrying woven bags, worn from the head, named 'noken'.

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Other pictures show the tribe playing an ancient instrument named a pikon – which is played alongside Papuan singing and chanting to from the soundtrack to the battle.

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Once the battle has finished, there is customary dancing and the playing of music of Papua.

There is also rattan spear throwing and games, pig racing, earth cooking and a celebratory feast of roast pig.

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This year, the festival was held between the 8-10th of August in Wamena, Walesi Sub-district, Jayawijaya District, Papua, with around 200 foreign tourists turning up to watch the 300 dancers.