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KIKI: Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime by Albert Maori Kiki

KIKI: Ten Thousand Years in a Lifetime

By

Pub Date: Nov. 1st, 1968
Publisher: Praeger

Papua-New Guinea. Few readers may be aware of the strivings for political independence of this island under Australian rule. The author of this tape-recorded work is a Papuan, unusual in that his parents came from two different and traditionally unfriendly clans. He grew up part of the time in each group and eventually left home, was educated as a pathologist, and in recent years has become a leader of a Papuan-New Guinea political party seeking home rule and eventual independence. It is a fascinating book justifying the complete title--the culture into which Kiki was born was a Stone Age one of perpetually warring tribes, searching for food, restricted to bark cloth clothing and primitive tools. Yet to heat it described one cannot but feel that a great deal has been lost in the transition to the 20th century. Where are the marvelous carvings of yesteryear? where the culturally imposed controls which limited children to two per family? This is a charming and instructive book and Kiki has been well served by his recorder-editor, Ulli Beier.