Anoek Photojournalist

STORIES: Cultural Festival at the Baliem Valley

West Papua 2008.

The Baliem Valley Cultural Festival, held at

Muliama village, about 20 kilometers from mountainous Wamena, in Papua, is an annual event in which Papuan tribes renowned for their histories of war reenact mock battles and perform traditional ceremonies as a cultural attraction. Hundreds of residents from the districts in Jayawijaya regency and its surrounding areas took part in the 19th Baliem Festival which last for 3 days on 8 august 2008.

Armed Indonesian Policemen pose for a photo with a Papuan Dani man on the showground of the Baliem Festival
   
Armed Indonesian Police guard at the audience of the Baliem Cultural Festival
   
Dani man dress up for the the festival near the mens hut at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
     
  
An old Dani man sits near an Indonesian soldier at the cultural festival
  
An old Dani man (L) stands at the entrance of the Baliem Cultural Festival at Muliama village
   
Indonesian Policemen pose for a photo with Papuan Dani performers at the baliem Cultural Festival
     
  
A group of Dani man have a break from performing at the Cultural festival in the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
A Dani man walks into the mens hut located at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
Dani man prepare performing at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
     
  
Dani man wait to perform on the showground of the Cultural festival in the Baliem Valley
   
Performers relax after the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village at the Baliem Valley
   
Dani tribesman arrive at the festival from far away villages to perform at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
     
  
Dani men sing and dance at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
A Dani man dresses up for the the festival near the mens hut at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
A Dani man acts dead performing a mock war at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
     
  
Papuan performers of the Cultural festival arrive early to rehearse at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
A young Dani girl rehearses at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
   
Young Dani men smile at the audience of the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village
     
  
Armed Indonesian Police officers guard at the Baliem Cultural Festival
  
A dani man performs at the Cultural Festival in a curtain of smoke at the Baliem Cultural Festival in Muliama village