The Baining Fire Dance

A cultural spectacle in the Baining Mountains of East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

The origin of these firedance ceremonies was to celebrate the birth of new children; the commencement of harvests and also a way of remembering the dead. The Baining firedance is also a rite of passage for initiating young men into adulthood. The fire dance is a men-only event and traditionally the Baining women and children neither partake nor watch.

The Baining people’s artworks are usually produced for limited uses only. The masks are laboriously made from bark cloth, bamboo and leaves and used just once for the firedance ceremony before being thrown away or destroyed.

Cinematography – Richard Sidey | richardsidey.com
Sound Recording – Patrick Nason | patricknason.com

Produced by Galaxiid, on assignment with EYOS Expeditions

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