Number of Documents

32

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Number of Pages

2634

Collection Overview

Documents referred to in this section are included in the eHRAF collections and are referenced by author, date of publication and eHRAF document number.

The Orokaiva collection consists of 31 documents, 30 in English, and one, a translation from French (Schwimmer, 1984, no. 32). The major time focus of the collection ranges from the late nineteenth century to the 1980s, and centers on the northern district of Papua, New Guinea. Probably the most comprehensive document for a general understanding of Orokaiva ethnography is that found in Williams (1930, no. 1), which provides a general overview of daily life, subsistence patterns, social organization, and religion. Supplementing this overview and focusing on more specific aspects of Orokaiva life are Williams (1928, no. 2) with its emphasis on magic and religion, and Reay (1953-1954, no. 3) that deals in large part with the norms and ideals of the society, child rearing practices, and social sanctions. In 1951 the eruption of Mount Lamington had a profound effect on the Orokaiva, their social organization and beliefs. This information is covered in great detail in Rimoldi (1966, no. 7), Schwimmer (1969, 1977, nos. 22 and 24), and Keesing (1952, no. 23). Erik Schwimmer has also contributed a number of other documents to this collection which include: trade cycles and trade relationships (Schwimmer, 1973, 1979, nos. 5 and 19); theories of paternity (Schwimmer, 1969, no. 20); friendships and personal relations (Schwimmer, 1975, no. 25); the role of coconut, areca, and taro in their mythological, ritual, and social contexts (Schwimmer, 1974, no. 26); and concepts of work (Schwimmer, 1979, no. 27). Dakeyne's work with the Yega Orokaiva centers on cash crop, and cooperative agricultural production, and acculturation (Dakeyne, 1966, 1966, 1968, nos. 10, 11, and 18). Crocombe (1966, no. 12) also discusses the effects of acculturation on feasting behavior among the Orokaiva. Bride price and the economic implications of bride price on the autonomy of women in marriage are described in Hogbin (1966, no. 13), and Newton (1989, no. 31).

For more detailed information on the content of the individual works in this collection, see the abstracts in the citations preceding each document.

This culture summary is from the article "Orokaiva" by Christopher S. Latham, in the Encyclopedia of World Cultures, Vol. 2, 1991. Terence E. Hays, ed. Boston, Mass: G. K. Hall & Co. Slight changes in the linguistic affiliation section were made based on personal communication with Terence Hays. The synopsis and indexing notes were written by John Beierle in February 2003.