Book

Houses and ancestors: continuities and discontinuities in in leadership among the Manus

IASSA • Göteborg • Published In 1992 • Pages:

By: Gustafsson, Berit.

Abstract

In this study of Melanesian leadership, Gustafsson critiques the two widely-held views that i) the traditional leader, or so-called 'Big Man,' was a pure entrepreneur manipulating the system for his own gain and ii) that the traditional leadership system was changed forever by the Paliau Movement. Gustafsson argues that there were two traditional leadership systems. Besides Big Men, there were LAPAN who were lineage (TALI) leaders and whose main role was to serve the lineage. The authority of the LAPAN was sanctioned by ancestral spirits (MOEN PALIT) and maintained through prestations and lineage control of resources. According to Gustafsson only a LAPAN had the resources and prestige to become a Big Man. The Paliau Movement did away with the system of prestations undermining the Big Man system. Influenced by Christianity, it also transformed the MOEN PALIT into a universal god, WIN NEISEN. However the Movement did not change the village and lineage structure. The LAPAN remained the local leader and assumed a new role as elected official in the local government council.

HRAF PubDate

2005

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Melanesia

Document Type

Book

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Ian Skoggard ; 2004

Field Date

1990-1992

Coverage Date

1884-1992

Coverage Place

M'buke Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea

Notes

Berit Gustafsson

Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral--University of Gothenburg), 1993

Includes bibliographical references (p. 276-280)

LCCN

93228309

LCSH

Manus (Papua New Guinea people)