The Korowai Tribe | The last indigenous people who practiced cannibalism

There are many dietary trends that man has practiced since the beginning of time and until modernity. Beef, sheep and poultry meat, seeds, vegetables, greens and roots, including exotic animals or insects. Any of them may be more or less pleasant, according to one’s own culture and tastes. But there is a practice that has traditionally generated horror and immediate rejection, and yet, it has been more recurrent than we believe. Cannibalism in history has been around for about 800,000 years and although it may sound like something very remote, it still exists on the island of New Guinea. in the north of Australia, a human group that practices it. This is the Korowai tribe. Today at we wanted to travel to these remote lands, to tell you everything about Korowai cannibalism.

What is the Korowai tribe like?

New Guinea, also known as Papua, is the second largest island on the planet. Its lands full of white sand coasts and abundant vegetation are also home to one of the last cannibal tribes in the world, which until 1970 lived in absolute isolation. We talk to you about the Korowai tribe. This population of natives is nomadic by nature, and they move in the tropical jungles of the southeast of the island. when food runs out in the place where they live or when many tribe members die in the same area.

Korowai cannibalism is the main reason why this tribe has become internationally known, but in addition to this, they have a series of customs and practices that are truly amazing. One of them is the construction of their houses. The Korowai tribe literally lives in the air! The natives have specialized in the design and construction of houses on the treetops. The reasons for starting this tradition were varied: the mosquitoes stunned them on the ground at night. There they were exposed to attacks from neighboring tribes, which frequently occurred to steal women and children between tribes. Furthermore, the higher up they slept, the Korowai felt they were moving away from evil spirits. Some of the houses of this tribe can rise up to 35 to 40 meters from the ground.

How were the Korowai discovered?

The first documented contact with the Korowai tribe was not long ago actually. It happened in 1974. It was the anthropologist Peter Van Arsdale and the geographer Robert Mitton who described them for the first time, although it was all due to the clues they received from a group of Dutch missionaries who, since 1970, began to live together and make contact with them.

The purpose of these religious groups was to «convert» these communities and avoid, to the extent possible, any practice considered «savage» by us. However, it was not until 1996 when the first converts began to be baptized, but in reality, very few decided to do so. The Korowai, like any other tribe, have the right to preserve their native customs and traditions. However, it is undeniable that Korowai cannibalism generates amazement and horror.

But for them their practices are nothing more than part of their own essence. Let us remember that we are in West Papua, a place where more than 300 tribes live together, in the middle of a wild and fascinating natural environment. The Korowai tribe in particular is made up of about three thousand to four thousand individuals.who were not aware of the existence of a world beyond their jungle, until the first contact of Dutch missions in the seventies.

Korowai cannibalism

Without a doubt that The most impressive aspect about this group of native islanders is Korowai cannibalism. The first thing we tell you about it is that it is a practice that is closely associated with religion.. The Korowai are a people skilled in hunting and agriculture, but it is also common for them to fight wars from time to time. The town is divided into clans and the discrepancies that occur between them and that lead to clashes are generally linked to matters of magic or witchcraft. Even if someone gets sick or if the hunting is not good, the Korowai attribute it to external influences, to bad tricks from enemy clans.

The Korowai tribe then practices cannibalism directly linked to witchcraft. The natives kill and eat those they consider to be khakhua or witches, capable of taking human form to cause death, illness and loss in the tribe. In fact, anyone who is suspected of practice magic or witchcraft, you will be punished. Anyone confirmed to be carrying out strange acts or to be a khahua (witch) will be tortured, executed and eaten. Women and children do not participate in the cannibalistic act, nor in torture, nor death, nor eating. Once the person dies, one of the most valued parts of the body for consumption is the brain.

It should be noted that According to anthropologists, it is very likely that today they no longer carry out this custom.. However, references indicate that until 2006 Korowai cannibalism was still a reality. And for intrepid travelers who travel the world in search of experiences, the possibility of getting closer to meeting an authentic cannibal tribe undoubtedly attracts attention.

Other customs of the Korowai tribe

In addition to Korowai cannibalism, this native town maintains other very interesting customs and habits. For example, Korowai clothing is particular. Women usually wear a piece of animal skin that covers their private parts and a necklace with dog teeth. The men are naked and with sticks in their noses. Both usually have circular marks on their skin, the product of self-inflicted burns.

Regarding the social organization of the Korowai tribe, Ten to twelve people usually gather in the same house at the top of a tree.. They are usually entire families of father, mother and children. There is also a single leader of the tribe, in charge of making important decisions. The other men and women distribute tasks of gathering, agriculture and hunting. Their main objective is to survive with what nature offers them.

Regarding day-to-day nutrition, They mainly eat Sago, a type of flour that they extract from the trunks of the Sago palm tree. They prepare different meals with it, roasting it or cooking it over the fire. They also add fish, small lobsters, birds, wild pigs, snakes, frogs and Sago worms to their diet.

The Korowai tribe maintains, of course, a very different way of understanding the world around them. With a powerful spirituality, they always carry with them the presence of the spirits of their ancestors, as well as the belief in a creative spirit. They organize parties to call for fertility and punish witches by devouring them. Without a doubt a remote and interesting population, about which we have millions of things to discover. If you liked this topic, don’t miss our article on the tribes with the strangest customs.