Papa New Guinea
Papua New Guinea, officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia (a region of the southwestern Pacific Ocean north of Australia). It shares its only land border with Indonesia to the west and its other close neighbors are Australia to the south and the Solomon Islands to the east.
Its capital, located on its southern coast, is Port Moresby.
The country's dual name results from its complex administrative history before independence. Beginning in 1884, the region was split between two colonial powers. Germany ruled the northern half of the country for several decades as a colony named German New Guinea, while the southern part of the country became a British protectorate.
Languages
There are 840 known languages of Papua New Guinea (including English), making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world. The official languages are English, Hiri Motu, Sign Language and Tok Pisin
Culture
It is estimated that more than one thousand cultural groups exist in Papua New Guinea. Because of this diversity, many styles of cultural expression have emerged. Each group has created its own expressive forms in art, dance, weaponry, costumes, singing, music, architecture and much more. Most of these cultural groups have their own language. People typically live in villages that rely on subsistence farming. In some areas people hunt and collect wild plants (such as yam roots and karuka) to supplement their diets. Those who become skilled at hunting, farming and fishing earn a great deal of respect.
Seashells are no longer the currency of Papua New Guinea, as they were in some regions—sea shells were abolished as currency in 1933. This tradition is still present in local customs. In some cultures, to get a bride, a groom must bring a certain number of golden-edged clam shells as a bride price. In other regions, the bride price is paid in lengths of shell money, pigs, cassowaries or cash. Elsewhere, it is brides who traditionally pay a dowry.
People of the highlands engage in colourful local rituals that are called "sing sings." They paint themselves and dress up with feathers, pearls and animal skins to represent birds, trees or mountain spirits. Sometimes an important event, such as a legendary battle, is enacted at such a musical festival.
Magical Culture
In 1782, wizard Flavius Belby became the first and only wizard to survive a Lethifold attack on the island of Papua New Guinea.
Ministry of Magic
Unknown
Creatures
Quidditch
Unknown
At Absit Omen
- Akira Katz Eleor had a shipment of books about the magic fertility rituals of tribes in Papua New Guinea[1]
- Kabir Ahmed was attacked with a dart gun reminiscent of Papa New Guinea[2]
Characters Born in Papa New Guinea
- None
