TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography

Latest Posts

Asaro Mudmen Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province

Published by travel67

Asaro Mudmen Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show Papua New Guinea

Another singsing group by the Asaro mudmen. This group were selling mudmen figurines with detachable masks. They were fantastic, but unfortunately I knew that they would’t survive a day in my rucksack.

Asaro Mudmen Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show Papua New Guinea

Another photographer introduced me to one of the leaders in the tribe. He was a real tough guy, an enforcer within the tribe and between tribes.

Asaro Mudmen Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show Papua New Guinea

Mefenga Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province

Published by travel67

Mefenga Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

The Mefenga tribe in their grass skirts, and matching grass tops, necklaces, and headdresses.

Mefenga Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

The Man from Mamona

Published by travel67

Mamona Singsing Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

As you move away from a person it is more difficult to get eye contact and create a moment of connection between subject and photographer. In this photograph, however, the man stared right down the lens of the camera.

At first glance this looks like an elderly frail man. Then you notice the veins on the muscles, the strength in his grip, and you realize he’s probably fitter and stronger than the guy on the other side of the camera.

Tokua Culture Singsing Group, Jiwaka Province

Published by travel67

Tokua Culture Singsing Group, Jiwaka Provice - Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

Tokua Culture Singsing Group, Jiwaka Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

In some parts of Papua New Guinea you can still use certain shells as currency. The Tokua Culture group clearly held shells in high esteem as each wore multiple layers of shell necklaces that rattled as they danced.

Tokua Culture Singsing Group, Jiwaka Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

Asaro Mudmen, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province

Published by travel67

Asaro Mudmen Womens Culture Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province

There were a few singsing groups from the Asaro Mudmen tribe. The men and boys were always covered with grey clay and wore the iconic masks, while the women were covered in brown clay. In this group, the women also had yellow and orange polka dots on their faces.

Asaro Mudmen Womens Culture Group, Daulo District, Eastern Highlands Province

Andase Singsing Group, Kainantudis, Eastern Highlands Province

Published by travel67

Andase Singsing Group, Kainantudis, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

The Andase Singsing Group of Kainantudis. Simple natural tones created using leaves, grasses and shells made up their traditional dress.

Andase Singsing Group, Kainantudis, Eastern Highlands Province – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

Zenshu Toyama 富山全秋 10th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Published by travel67

Zenshu Toyama 10th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Toyama Zenshu was born in Awase in 1936, he used to swim in the bay as a kid, and now at age 77, his dojo looks out over the same bay. He is still very strong and demonstrated with James how easily he could throw someone to the floor and dominate an encounter. His favorite kata (set forms) are sepia, suparenpei and saifa. When asked about his favorite kotowaza (idiom / words of wisdom) he said Mikan se no kasei which refers to the imperfection of vision or the inability to see what is right in front of you, like your eyelashes.

Zenshu Toyama 10th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Satoshi Toyama 9th dan & Zenshu Toyama 10th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Fearsome and powerful, but also a lovely friendly grandfather. Toyama-san gave James advice on how to dislocate a man’s jaw. He gave me a can of coffee and a hug.

Zenshu Toyama 10th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Kunai Culture Singsing Group – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

Published by travel67

Kunai Culture Singsing Group – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

The Kunai Culture Singsing Group with their red, black, white and yellow face paint gives them one of the most distinctive looks of the Goroka Show.

Kunai Culture Singsing Group – Goroka Show, Papua New Guinea

Satoshi Toyama 9th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Published by travel67

Satoshi Toyama 9th dan Goju Ryu Karate

Father and son shoot at the Toyama dojo on Sunday evening. Satoshi Toyama is 9th dan in Goju Ryu karate and now runs their dojo in Awase, Okinawa City.