Papua New Guinea: Sepik River – Crocodile Dance at Kopar Village
The most incredible part of the visit to the Kopar community along the Sepik River was the traditional crocodile dance performance and ensuing staged ceremony show of a new chief initiation. This tribe views crocodiles as sacred animals and all male youths go through brutal initiation to manhood ceremonies where the skin in their backs is cut with hundreds of bloody incision that are then left to somewhat fester before healing, resulting in many symmetric skin bumps resembling a crocodiles back skin. The new chief coronation was almost a real theater with great performances and action.
