Papua New Guinea: Melpa tribe in full ceremonial gear

Here’s a visit to another Western Highlands tribe – Melpa – with a man and a woman dressing up in full tribal costume and face & body paints. The chest plates are mother of pearl shells (was main currency in Papua New Guinea highlands until 1970s). The hats are full of the birds of paradise and parakeets feathers and decorations, face paints are made from various clays and muds found in the Highlands. The woman is holding a ceremonial drum (works great on bad spirits) and the man has a triple spiked spear (works great pretty much on anything).