Sophia Isu 19/15/16/9/1 – 9/19/22

Sophia Isu 19/15/16/9/1 – 9/19/22.

Mama Baharu & Mama Maus

Kwalakesi Village, W.N.B.P
Kurkuru (native dove) Clan

In every village in PNG there are women like sisters Baharu & Maus . These women possess a special Skill which has been passed down from generation to generation. This skill has been perfected to secure the continuality of the clan, their bloodline, along with their culture, tradition and language, by safely delivering into the world their next generation.

Fondly nicknamed Mama Baharu, meaning “widow” Baharu has delivered many babies including whole families from mother to children to grand children with the help of her younger sister Maus.

Together they follow a special ritual which was taught to them by their mother, a little song they quietly sing to the baby to coax her out and insure a safe delivery.

“Bureki mapatili, e baby mapatili” she sings while gently pressing the expectant mother’s belly. “Baby turn your head upside down like a (sleeping) flying fox”

“Ekibelube lamatala baby, lube” Baby come first release the rope (umbilical cord) and come first.

While tenderly patting the pregnant woman’s back she sings the last verse “Ekoko Saraka baby,Saraka” “be like a slippery eel and slide baby”

This is the same song that was sung to both sisters as babies waiting to be born into this world. A song sung long ago by their tumbunas (ancestors) that will continue to be taught and sung to the next generations.

Sister Baharu & Maus

Mama Baharu

Some of the Children they have delivered

Mama Baharu Scraping Bau( Cassava/Tapioka)

Emmanuella Matige ~A young mothers first love~

The newest member of the Kurkuru (native dove) Clan.
Emmanuella has eyes just for her young mother.

A young mothers first Love

Sophia Isu 19/15/16/9/1 – 9/19/22

For 8 years I didn’t know her name, i always referred to her as “mama”

One day she saw me walk pass camera in hand, she called me over and asked me quietly to take a Piksa (Photograph) of her for her bubus (grandchildren). As I looked thru the eye piece I realized how old she was, all the wrinkles magnified by the camera lens. There were tattoos on her skin which to the naked eye looked like a child had scribbled all over. Many years ago these tattoos would have stood out against her brown skin, how they have faded away with time.
There were numbers tattooed on her arm which i later worked out stood for the order of letters in the English alphabet, 19/15/16/9/19/19/21 spelt Sophia Isu. An interesting Japanese/Chinese symbol caught my eye; my mind started racing, trying to figure out how on earth she could have been branded with such a symbol, was it from world war 2 which she spoke fondly of, struggling at times to remember her experience, maybe a love affair during that time? I thought out loud. She then burst into laughter her eyes wet with tears as she told me of how she used to work for a half caste china man named Morris Kimwa Ling, who used to own a trade store. Working in that trade store one day she came across the symbol on a tin fish can, different and unique to her eyes she decided to brand herself with it.

I wonder how many more stories Sophia has of the old days or “taim blo bipo” as she refered to it. Sadly tho most of those memories just like her tattoos, will fade away in time.