bilum bilong beki
My cousin Ross lives in Papua New Guinea, working for a conservation NGO. He’s an interesting guy: he really needs his own blog. For various reasons, including his own safety, he’s probably not likely to get himself one. But we love hearing his stories whenever he comes home.
One Christmas he gave all the females of the family these rather nice handcrafted string tote bags, or bilums in Pidgin. I need to ask Ross what they are made of – but they are made using all local materials and and dyes.
Becky ended up not only using hers a lot, but really admiring the art and craft of them. She asked him if she could get some more. So Ross emailed back a photo of several for sale through some PNG National friends of his. By coincidence the three Becky chose turned out to be one from each of the three wives of the local head man.
The other object between them on the far wall is something else, a baby carrier that Ross sent over when Rosa was born.
So now they are displayed on our wall. I imagine their makers must think us pretty strange for spending good money on these things and then not using them…
Justin
17 August 2005, 02:29 #
I was in PNG some years back and watched a local making bilums.
The string was hand made by rubbing together fibres from a local plant (flax?) then twisted into a dual helix.
The knotting of the bag was like crochet, sometimes with varying colours.
I still have one for going to the beach. You can stuff amazing amounts of items into one, and avoid carrying back sand by giving it a good shake.
Also handy for ski boots!
Alan
17 August 2005, 16:26 #
They are indeed very useful. And being crocheted / knitted, they seem to expand as required.
There’s another good photo on Flickr here which would seem to show that they are often a lot more colourful than the ones we have. I’ve seen this before with handcrafts – the locals prefer colourful artificial fibres and dyes; westerners looking for the “authentic” go for the natural look, much to the bemusement of the locals.
Martha
20 August 2005, 08:48 #
I’ve had “Bilum bilong beki” running through my head for 2 days now. Nice clever title, but too damn catchy. I’m going a little bit MAD with it.
Alan
20 August 2005, 13:03 #
I’d not thought of it before, but now that you mention it there is a song and dance number in that phrase somewhere…
Martha
21 August 2005, 13:47 #
More like an annoying Smurf chant “bilum bilong beki bilum bilong beki bilum bilong beki”
danielle griffiths
15 November 2005, 02:16 #
I am interested in buying Bilum bags, where can I buy them on the web, as I live in England UK?
Alan
15 November 2005, 06:26 #
I don’t know – I’ve seen one place that sells them online, but I can’t remember the address. Just keep searching for “bilum”.
Tinah
26 September 2006, 11:09 #
Hi Danielle,
I have some wonderful bilums for sale, if you are still interested then I would love to sell them to you. Please reply ASAP and let me know.
Cheers Tinah
Alan
26 September 2006, 19:16 #
Tinah: unfortunately Danielle didn’t leave a valid email address, so I can’t alert her to your note. Hopefully she drops by some time…
tinah
28 September 2006, 12:33 #
Thanks anyways Allan, I’ll keep my fingers crossed, and if anyone else wants to buy some bilums then please feel free to contact me.
Cheers Tinah
Lila Das Gupta
16 May 2007, 01:22 #
Dear All,
I am trying to source a place from where Bilum bags may be purchased in the UK. Do you have any information about this? These bags were brought to my attention by a reader on the Daily Telegraph’s website.
Kind Regards, Lila Das Gupta
SEE BLOG:
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/recycleoflife/april07/ethicalbags.htm
Alan
16 May 2007, 06:43 #
Lila:
I’m told that sometimes they are available from Trade Aid shops (I can’t remember if you have those in the UK).
But separately I’ll forward you Tinah’s email address.
Rick Brittain
7 June 2007, 23:22 #
G’day youse,
I work in PNG at a place called Porgera, in Enga Province, in Papua New Guinea.
My roster is a 16 days on/12 days off routine, and I usually bring back a few bilums each trip home, for the rellies and friends here in OZ.
Last year me and the missus went back to England for a holiday, and we’re doing the same again in January 2008 for a month or so.
It’s no problem for me to bring a few original PNG bilums over with us (they don’t take up much room in a suitcase, and if anyone wants one, they can have it gratis…you’d just have to collect it from wherever we happen to be, is all.
I’ll be staying in London 2nd to 10th January, then onto to northern parts (Durham/Newcastle etc) for a few weeks, but if you want one, and can collect it during that time, it’s yours.
Depending on how many responses I get, determines how many I bring over this trip..but (no pun intended), no strings attached, I’m happy to spread the culture, and bilums, around if you like.
My e-mail addy is : “ricnolmad@optusnet.com.au
...if you want one.
Cheers,
Rick Brittain
Cairns, Qld, OZ
Kela
1 September 2007, 04:14 #
Check this site www.maienduo.com to purchase your bilum on line.
Rick Brittain
12 September 2007, 11:38 #
As I mentioned previously, I am prepared to give some away…They cost me nothing, and I’ve already sent 3 to a lovely lady in NSW for herself, her Mum and her sister. I have no idea why people insist on paying (as much as $US50, or the equivalent of PGK150.00) for bilums, when they can get them for free if they would like some.
No biggie for me, and I’m only too happy to send them out to wherever, if you guys really want them.
Cheers,
Rick Brittain,
Cairns, Qld
Alan
12 September 2007, 11:42 #
Thanks Rick!
Readers will note Rick’s email address displayed in comment #13.
rmb
12 September 2007, 13:02 #
Hi all,
I am the “lovely lady in NSW” Rick referred to in his post above…and I just wanted to let you all know that the lovely Rick in Cairns/PNG did in fact send me three bilims and wouldn’t accept any payment for them – I am happy to say that people like this DO still exist in the world :-) I found his details on this very blog, when I was searching for a bilim for my mum as they are so hard to find…
It brings a smile to my face whenever I tell anyone where the bag came from…and people comment on it all the time…I gave the other two to my sister and Mum…
Thanks again Rick! You are definitely doing your bit to spread the culture around…
Bridgette
24 October 2007, 18:00 #
Hi all
I am selling PNG bilums on behalf of family and community members espically mothers back home in PNG who are trying to help themselves in selling their hand make bilums to raise money for their children’s school fees for 2008. Prices ranges in sizes. If you are looking for something for xmas or just happy to promote culture and or help others, I will be happy to hear from you. Thanks Allan for putting this request out onto the network.
bridgette
Rick
31 October 2007, 17:23 #
Hello Bridgette,
I saw your posting there, and am happy to buy some from you if I can.
It’s obviously a worthy cause, as I know how difficult it can be to raise school fees here, and rather than just buy them from locals here in the Highlands, I would be glad to get some from you.
I will then pass them on (give them away as presents) to wantoks and others that will give them a good home…both in Australia, and other parts of the world.
I’m currently in Porgera, (at work email on rbrittain@barrick.com) and would need to get them from you somehow.
Can you contact me, and see what we can sort out..?
Many thanks, and I hope I can hear from you soon.
oh, and yes…Thanks to Alan, for allowing us to use this forum to help out where we can.
Cheers,
Rick Brittain
Alan
31 October 2007, 19:50 #
If anyone wants Bridgette’s email address, just use the contact form on my “About” page (see link in the navigation to the top of this page) to email me.
Christine Shaw
1 November 2007, 18:43 #
Hi All,
I was the lucky recipient of 2 great bilums courtesy of Rick Brittain. He is a very genuine person, true to his word and he sent me the bilums as a gift with no costs to me. Many thanks Rick and all the best,
Cheers,
Christine
Mari Hardy
28 December 2007, 05:38 #
Wow, I just got my First Bilum as a Present from a Prayer Partner in PNG. It is so pretty! The Talent that these are made with are amazing! The stretch in these are amazing! I am so Thankful! The colors are so bright and Pretty! This has been the best Christmas Present ever!
Robert
28 March 2008, 17:18 #
I am from Papua New Guinea and I can Help you.
Different bilums from all cultures.
Tamara
8 May 2008, 01:31 #
Rick Brittain sent me the three most beautiful bilum bags EVER! I simply emailed him and told him how excited I was about bilums, and asked if he would kindly send bags to me and my two anthropology student friends, and voila! I received them today! They are not only spectacular, but Rick was SO VERY kind during the process of writing back and forth.
My friend Teresa, owner of one of the bilums sends an extra thank you too.
Cheers Rick, you are a wonderful guy for being so generous and kind!
~By the way, they are exactly the colors each of us favor!
Charles
9 May 2008, 13:07 #
Following on to Tamara’s message I also want to extend A BIG THANKS TO Rick Brittain!
Many years ago when I was living in PNG I bought some bilum bags which have finally become too tattered to be used. After some googling I found this website and the message from Rick Brittain and his offer to provide them FOC. Well I have to tell you, he did exactly as he promised, and apart from sending me a bilum (gratis, including mail), he also provided detailed instructions on how to fix the handle according to how you want to use it. As I said to Rick, it is rare nowadays for people to do anything for nothing, but he really seems to be a very special person and ready to promote some of the PNG culture all over the world and refusing any monetary reward for it.
Thanks mate, you are a ripper bloke!