Welcome to Papua New Guinea, one of the most mysterious and culturally diverse places on Earth. Forget what you know about simple superstitions; in PNG, the spiritual world is part of the everyday world. With over 800 languages, there isn’t one set of beliefs, but thousands. These beliefs are rooted in animism—the idea that the land, the rivers, the animals, and the ancestors are all alive and powerful. What we call “superstition” is, for many, simply the rulebook for living a safe and proper life. Let’s explore the world of “masalai” (spirits), “tambu” (taboos), and the power of the ancestors.
The Land and The Spirits (Masalai)
The “Masalai” (Spirits)
This is the most important concept. A “masalai” is a spirit (or group of spirits) that “owns” a specific piece of land—a river, a mountain, a forest.
“Ples Masalai” (Spirit Place)
You never enter a “ples masalai” (a sacred spirit place) without permission or a ritual. Doing so will bring certain illness or misfortune.
Asking the Forest
Before cutting down a large tree, you must speak to it and ask its spirit for permission, often leaving a small offering.
Silence in the Forest
It is forbidden to shout, laugh loudly, or be disrespectful in deep jungle areas. The spirits will “hide” the animals or even make you get lost.
Mountain Spirits
Mountain spirits are especially powerful. An unexplained mist, a sudden storm, or a landslide is often seen as the masalai showing its displeasure.
River Spirits
Certain bends in a river or deep pools are homes to water spirits. Swimming in them is taboo, as the spirit may pull you under.
Shapeshifting Spirits
Many masalai can take the form of an animal, especially a snake, a crocodile, or a giant bird. Harming one is a terrible idea.
The Whirlwind
A sudden whirlwind or dust devil on a calm day is a masalai passing by. You should get out of its way immediately.
Volcanoes and Giants
In volcanic areas (like Rabaul), eruptions are often seen as the actions of giant spirits or ancestors living inside the mountain.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are not just tectonic. They are often believed to be a giant ancestor or spirit turning over in its sleep under the ground.
Ancestors and The Spirit World
The Ancestors are Watching
The dead are not gone. They are *always* present, watching the living. Your actions must honor them, or they will cause trouble.
Food Offerings
A small portion of food from a feast or garden is often set aside for the ancestors to “eat” first, ensuring their blessing.
Speaking the Name of the Dead
In many clans, it is *tambu* (taboo) to speak the name of someone who has recently died, as it may call their ghost back and stop it from resting.
Improper Burial
The *worst* thing you can do. An improper burial (or none at all) creates an angry, dangerous ghost that will haunt the entire village.
Dreams are Messages
If an ancestor appears in your dream, it is not a dream. It is a *real* visit. They are bringing you a warning, advice, or a new magic spell.
Sickness as Displeasure
If you get sick, your first question is: “Which ancestor did I anger?” Sickness is often seen as a punishment for breaking a taboo.
“Sing-Sing” (Festivals)
These are not just parties. The elaborate masks and body paint at a *sing-sing* are ways for humans to *become* the ancestors and spirits, bringing them into the world.
Keeping the Skulls
In some cultures (especially along the Sepik), ancestors’ skulls were kept, painted, and honored in the men’s house to keep their power and wisdom close.
The Butterfly Omen
A butterfly (especially a specific color) entering the house is often seen as the soul of a recently deceased relative coming to say goodbye.
Ghosts of Warriors
The ghosts of men who died in battle are considered the most dangerous. They are angry, confused, and can cause great harm if not appeased.
Magic, Curses, and Protection (“Sanguma”)
“Sanguma” (Sorcery)
This is the local word for evil magic, sorcery, or a witch. It’s a very serious belief. Nothing bad (like a sudden death or illness) happens by accident; a *sanguma* is always to blame.
“Tok” (Magic Spell)
“Tok” is the Tok Pisin word for “talk,” but it also means a magic spell or curse. Words have real power.
Guarding Your “Leavings”
This is *critical*. You must *never* leave your hair clippings, nail pairings, or leftover food where an enemy can find them. A *sanguma* can use them to work magic on you.
Destroying Your “Leavings”
The safest practice is to burn your hair, bury your food scraps deep, or drop your nail clippings into a latrine where no one can ever retrieve them.
The Pointing Curse
In some regions, it’s believed a sorcerer can “shoot” a curse into you by pointing a special bone or stick at you from a distance.
Stealing Footprints
A powerful sorcerer can “steal” your footprint from the mud, wrap it in a leaf, and roast it over a fire. As the footprint dries, your body will sicken and die.
Love Magic
This is very common. A man might use a special charm or spell (often involving his scent) to make a woman fall in love with him.
Garden Magic
A good harvest isn’t just about good soil. You *must* know the right magic songs and spells to make your yams and sweet potatoes grow large.
Rain Magic
There are specific “rain-makers” in a village who know the rituals to call rain during a drought, or to *stop* the rain for a big festival.
Protective Amulets
People wear amulets (like a pig’s tusk, special shells, or a small bag of herbs) to protect themselves from *sanguma* and bad spirits.
Chewing Ginger
Chewing a piece of ginger and spitting the juice is a common act of personal magic to cleanse a space or give oneself “power” before speaking.
Red Body Paint
Red ochre or clay is not just decoration. It’s a powerful substance often worn during rituals to give the wearer spiritual protection and power.
“Poison” (Not Physical)
When someone talks about being “poisoned,” they often don’t mean a physical substance. They mean a sorcerer has put a curse on them that feels like a sickness.
The Diviner
If someone dies mysteriously, the family will hire a diviner (or “glass-man”) who will perform a ritual to find out *who* used *sanguma* to kill them.
“Glass-Man” (Modern Diviner)
A “glass-man” (or woman) is someone who stares into a piece of broken glass or a mirror to see the face of the sorcerer responsible for a curse.
Daily Life and Taboos (“Tambu”)
“Tambu” (Taboo)
“Tambu” is the most important word in daily life. It means **”Taboo”** or “Forbidden.” Breaking a *tambu* is the fastest way to get sick or die.
The Men’s House
In many traditional villages, women are *tambu* from entering the Men’s House, where sacred objects and rituals are kept. It would spoil the magic.
Menstruation Taboos
This is a huge one. A menstruating woman is seen as having a power that can *spoil* magic. She is *tambu* from touching a warrior’s weapons or even preparing his food.
Stepping Over Someone
You must *never* step over a person who is lying or sitting on the floor. It’s like “stealing” their strength or cursing them.
Stepping Over Food
Even worse is stepping over food. This is an incredible insult and a *tambu* that will make the food (and the person who eats it) sick.
Who Cooks Your Food
Many people will *only* eat food prepared by their wife, mother, or sister. Eating food from a stranger (or enemy) is risky; they could have put a curse on it.
Touching the Head
The head is the most sacred part of the body. You should not touch someone’s head or hair without permission; it’s both disrespectful and spiritually dangerous.
Pointing With a Finger
Pointing directly at a person with one finger is considered extremely rude and aggressive, like you are challenging them or even casting a minor curse.
Yams Have Spirits
In the Highlands, yams are not just food. They are a measure of wealth and are believed to have spirits. They must be grown, harvested, and stored with respect.
The “Bilum” (String Bag)
A woman’s *bilum* is more than a bag. It’s a part of her. A newborn baby’s first cradle is its mother’s *bilum*. They are seen as having a life-force.
Canoe Building Rituals
You cannot just build a canoe. The entire process is filled with rituals and taboos to appease the tree spirit and ensure the canoe is “fast” and “safe.”
“Wantok” System
This isn’t a superstition, but a social rule. Your “wantok” (one-talk, someone who speaks your language) is your family. You must help them *no matter what*. Failing to do so invites bad luck.
The Coconut Omen
If a coconut falls on a perfectly calm day, it’s not an accident. A spirit knocked it down, often as a warning.
Sharing Fire
Fire is a powerful, sacred element. In some clans, it is *tambu* to give a burning brand from your fire to a stranger; they could use it to steal your “power.”
Warrior Taboos
Before a traditional fight, warriors would observe strict taboos. They could not sleep with their wives or eat certain foods, as it would make them “weak.”
Secret Names
Many people have a “public” name and a “secret” spirit name. Knowing someone’s true name gives you power over them, so it’s kept hidden.
Betel Nut (Buai)
Chewing *buai* (betel nut) is a deeply social and ritualistic act. It’s used to open conversations, seal agreements, and is even used in magic.
Avoiding Eye Contact
Direct, sustained eye contact with a stranger or a powerful person is seen as a challenge. It’s a sign of aggression, not confidence.
Crossing Your Legs
In front of an elder or in-law, crossing your legs (especially so your foot points at them) is a massive sign of disrespect.
Sacred Stones
Many villages have a “story stone” or sacred rock that is the “heart” of the village. It must not be moved or disrespected, or the village will fall.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Omens
Hiding a Pregnancy
A woman will often hide her pregnancy for the first few months. This is to protect the unborn baby from jealousy and curses (*sanguma*).
The Birthing Hut
A pregnant woman must give birth in a separate “birthing hut,” away from the main village. Birth is a time of immense spiritual power and danger.
Don’t Praise a Baby
You should *never* say a newborn baby is “beautiful” or “fat.” This attracts the jealousy of spirits or the Evil Eye, so you must say the baby is “ugly” to trick them.
“Ugly” Baby
To protect a baby, you should say it looks “ugly” or “small.” This tricks the spirits into leaving it alone.
Burying the Placenta
The placenta is considered the baby’s “spirit-twin.” It must be *buried* (often under the house) to tie the child’s soul to its homeland.
Father’s Taboos
While his wife is pregnant, a man must also observe taboos. He might be forbidden from hunting certain animals or going to war, as it would harm the baby.
Seclusion After Birth
A new mother and her baby will stay in seclusion (sometimes for 40 days) until they are “strong” enough to face the world’s spirits and potential curses.
Spirit Children
An old belief that a woman can become pregnant *without* a man, by a *masalai* (spirit) from a river or forest. These children are often seen as special.
Food Cravings
A pregnant woman’s cravings are taken very seriously. It is believed to be the *baby’s soul* asking for the food, and to deny it would be bad luck.
Naming the Child
A child is often named after a recent ancestor, a dream, or an important event. The name carries the power of that person or event.
Animal Omens
The Owl’s Cry
In many regions, an owl hooting near the village at night is a *terrible* omen. It is a messenger of death or a sign a *sanguma* is near.
Dogs Howling
Dogs are believed to be able to see spirits. If a dog howls at “nothing” in the night, it is howling at a ghost or bad spirit that humans cannot see.
The Crocodile Totem
Along the Sepik River, crocodiles are not just animals; they are ancestor spirits. Harming one (unless for a ritual) is a great taboo.
Bird of Paradise
These birds are seen as spirits from *”antap” (up)* or the spirit world. Their feathers are used in magic and are incredibly valuable, holding spiritual power.
The Snake Omen
A snake crossing your path is a powerful omen. It might be a bad sign, or it might be an ancestor spirit coming to give you a message.
A Bird in the House
If a wild bird flies into your house, it’s a message. You must let it out immediately. If it dies, it’s a sign that a family member will soon die.
Pigs are Sacred
Pigs are the ultimate symbol of wealth. They are used to pay for brides, settle disputes, and appease ancestors. Harming someone’s pig is a declaration of war.
Cassowary
The cassowary is a sacred, dangerous bird, often seen as a forest spirit. Its bones are used for daggers, and its feathers for rituals. It demands respect.
The Gecko’s Call
The “tok” of a gecko in the house is a messenger. If it calls a certain number of times, it can be a good or bad omen, or a sign of a visitor.
Shark Ancestors
In the islands, sharks are often believed to be the reincarnated spirits of powerful ancestors. There are “shark-callers” who can sing to them.
Modern and Syncretic Beliefs
“Cargo Cults” (General)
A belief that the ancestors will one day bring the “cargo” (modern wealth) that the white men have. This is a complex blend of old and new beliefs.
Mock Airstrips
Some groups famously built mock airplane runways out of bamboo, believing that if they performed the “rituals” of the white men, the ancestors would send planes full of cargo.
“Radio” Rituals
Some cargo cults also built mock radios and sat in them, “calling” to the ancestors to send them the cargo they saw soldiers receiving in WWII.
Bible as a Charm
Christianity is widespread, but it’s often blended. The Bible itself is seen as a powerful magic charm, and Jesus is seen as a powerful “ancestor” or spirit.
“Money Magic”
A modern form of *sanguma*. Some sorcerers claim they have magic to make you win the lottery or get rich, usually in exchange for a high price (or your soul).
The Cursed Phone Call
A modern urban legend. People believe that a *sanguma* can put a curse on you *through your mobile phone* if you answer a call from an unknown number.
“Whiteman’s Ghost”
The first white missionaries or explorers were often believed to be the ghosts of ancestors who had returned, which is why they were sometimes welcomed.
Number 13
The Western superstition of “Friday the 13th” has been adopted by some in the cities, but it’s not a traditional taboo.
The “Kangaroo-Man”
A famous modern urban legend of a half-man, half-kangaroo (or pig) creature that stalks people at night. It’s a modern *masalai*.
Satan” as “Sanguma”
In Christian areas, the “Devil” or “Satan” is often just a new name for the old “sanguma” sorcerer or a powerful, evil *masalai*.
Body Omens and Dreams
Dreams are Real (Again)
This is key. If you dream you are flying, your *soul* was flying. If you dream you fought someone, your *soul* fought them. Dreams are a second reality.
The Sneeze
A sudden sneeze is your “soul” (or a spirit inside you) trying to get out or warning you of danger. Someone might say “bless you” to protect it.
Yawning (Cover Your Mouth)
You must cover your mouth when you yawn, not from politeness, but to prevent a wandering (and possibly evil) spirit from *entering your body*.
Twitching Eyelid
An involuntary twitch in your eyelid is an omen. The left eye might mean you’ll see an enemy, the right eye a friend (or vice-versa).
Itchy Palm
This is a global one. An itchy palm means you’re about to receive money… or you’re about to *pay* money, depending on which hand it is.
Ringing Ears
If your ears ring, someone is talking about you. If it’s the right ear, it’s good gossip. Left ear? Bad gossip.
Hair Contains Your Spirit
Your hair is a huge part of your life-force. This is why it must be *burned or buried* after being cut, to prevent sorcery.
Hiccups
Sudden hiccups mean someone is thinking of you, or that you have grown a little bit.
Blood is Power
Blood holds immense spiritual power. It’s used in the most powerful magic and is a key part of many taboos (like menstruation and warfare).
Bones Hold the Soul
After the flesh is gone, the soul’s power resides in the bones. This is why ancestors’ bones were kept and why “pointing bones” are used for curses.
Spit is Magic
Your saliva (spit) is a powerful part of your essence. Spitting can be part of a curse or a blessing (like spitting ginger juice).
A Stubbed Toe
Stubbing your toe on a rock isn’t just clumsy. It’s a sign from the spirits that you are on the wrong path or should stop your journey.
Your Shadow is Your Soul
Your shadow is a part of your soul. You must not let someone “step on” your shadow, and you must be careful at noon when your shadow is smallest (weakest).
Reflections in Water
Staring at your reflection in a still pool of water is dangerous. A water *masalai* (spirit) might “steal” your reflection, and thus your soul, pulling you in.
“Heavy” Stomach
If you feel a “heavy” or “hot” stomach after eating, it might not be indigestion. It might be the first sign that the food was cursed by a *sanguma*.
Cultural & Scholarly Resources on PNG Beliefs
To show our commitment to well-researched content, we’re happy to share some of the official and academic resources that inform our articles. This list serves as a reliable starting point for deeper study.
- PNG National Museum & Art Gallery (Collections) — The official collection page of the Papua New Guinea National Museum.
- UPNG School of Humanities & Social Sciences — Central hub for research on PNG anthropology.
- National Cultural Commission (NCC) Mandate & Functions — Government body responsible for protecting PNG’s intangible heritage.
- Culture of Papua New Guinea – Wikipedia
- Masalai (Spirits) – Wikipedia
- Cargo Cult – Wikipedia
- Tok Pisin – Wikipedia