Mandau ID

VANDOO · 19th April 2015, 10:17 PM

I AM SURE SOME MEMBERS WOULD ENJOY SEEING THE PICTURES, ESPECIALLY IF SHIELDS, SWORDS AND TRADITIONAL DRESS ARE PRESENT. A GATHERING OF TRIBE AND FAMILY IS ALWAYS MORE FUN THAN A SHOW THAT IS DONE DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUTSIDERS.
WHILE IT IS PREFERABLE TO ACQUIRE A COMPLETE SWORD AND SCABBARD. ONE MUST REMEMBER THE TOOL AND WEAPON IS THE BLADE AND HANDLE NOT THE SCABBARD, ITS JUST THE FANCY BOX ITS KEPT IN WHEN NOT IN USE.

dstockbridge · 23rd April 2015, 08:11 AM

Finally found, scanned and resized a few photos of a Gawai Antu which I attended for about three days in 1992. The longhouse was about 2 to 3 hours from Kuching. We were fortunate to be invited by a neighbour of my wifes friend and we were treated very generously over the three days of the festival. I am no expert on the Gawai Antu but was told they are a festival for the spirits or ghosts. The festival is only held every 20 to 30 years as they are a very expensive event, there may in fact be spiritual reasons for that timeframe but I do not know.

This longhouse had about 25 family rooms and each household supplied as much alcohol and food as possible. These supplies were displayed prior to the commencement of the festival. During the event elders held processions and drank toasts to the spirits. These processions occurred throughout days and nights and I was told they were not meant to sleep much if at all - I eventually did.

I have included a few photos displaying the processions, dress and weapons. I never took photos of the heads that were taken, as I understand it by some of the elders in the processions (WWII Japanese as I recall). The little children were always keen on showing them to me. That after all is one of the uses of a Mandau. I received much respect and hospitality from these people and would expect that these photos be viewed respectfully as well.

Please enjoy

VANDOO · 23rd April 2015, 05:56 PM

THANKS FOR SHARING, IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE ALL THE FEATHERS IN THE HATS APPEAR TO BE FROM THE ARGUS PHEASANT WHILE THE FEATHERS ON THE SWORDS ARE HORNBILL. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY TRADITIONAL TRIBAL SIGNIFICANCE OR IF ITS JUST LOCAL PREFERENCE.
BEING THE GUEST AT SUCH A GATHERING ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN BE HAZARDOUS AS NO DOUBT EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PLENTY TO DRINK. WHEN IT IS WHISKY THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME AS I AM A LIGHTWEIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO DRINKING.

23rd April 2015, 08:11 AM	#2
dstockbridge Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Perth Western Australia Posts: 10	Gawai Antu 1992 Finally found, scanned and resized a few photos of a Gawai Antu which I attended for about three days in 1992. The longhouse was about 2 to 3 hours from Kuching. We were fortunate to be invited by a neighbour of my wifes friend and we were treated very generously over the three days of the festival. I am no expert on the Gawai Antu but was told they are a festival for the spirits or ghosts. The festival is only held every 20 to 30 years as they are a very expensive event, there may in fact be spiritual reasons for that timeframe but I do not know. This longhouse had about 25 family rooms and each household supplied as much alcohol and food as possible. These supplies were displayed prior to the commencement of the festival. During the event elders held processions and drank toasts to the spirits. These processions occurred throughout days and nights and I was told they were not meant to sleep much if at all - I eventually did. I have included a few photos displaying the processions, dress and weapons. I never took photos of the heads that were taken, as I understand it by some of the elders in the processions (WWII Japanese as I recall). The little children were always keen on showing them to me. That after all is one of the uses of a Mandau. I received much respect and hospitality from these people and would expect that these photos be viewed respectfully as well. Please enjoy Attached Images

19th April 2015, 10:17 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I AM SURE SOME MEMBERS WOULD ENJOY SEEING THE PICTURES, ESPECIALLY IF SHIELDS, SWORDS AND TRADITIONAL DRESS ARE PRESENT. A GATHERING OF TRIBE AND FAMILY IS ALWAYS MORE FUN THAN A SHOW THAT IS DONE DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR OUTSIDERS. WHILE IT IS PREFERABLE TO ACQUIRE A COMPLETE SWORD AND SCABBARD. ONE MUST REMEMBER THE TOOL AND WEAPON IS THE BLADE AND HANDLE NOT THE SCABBARD, ITS JUST THE FANCY BOX ITS KEPT IN WHEN NOT IN USE.

23rd April 2015, 05:56 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THANKS FOR SHARING, IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE ALL THE FEATHERS IN THE HATS APPEAR TO BE FROM THE ARGUS PHEASANT WHILE THE FEATHERS ON THE SWORDS ARE HORNBILL. I WONDER IF THERE IS ANY TRADITIONAL TRIBAL SIGNIFICANCE OR IF ITS JUST LOCAL PREFERENCE. BEING THE GUEST AT SUCH A GATHERING ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN BE HAZARDOUS AS NO DOUBT EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PLENTY TO DRINK. WHEN IT IS WHISKY THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME AS I AM A LIGHTWEIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO DRINKING.