Sepik River Aripa Figure

A tributary flowing off from the Middle Sepik River called The Korewori River and is where the Yimam people have their villages and the  "Aripa" ancestral figures can be found. Aripa is the local name, and these figures are more commonly called  a "Yipon". Each adult man in the village would have his own Aripa which he kept hidden in the rafters of the village Haus Tambaran (Spirit House). Aripa were used as a vessel of communication with the ancestor spirits prior to going into the bush hunting or before setting out on warring raids upon enemies.

This item is a 20 year old contemporary interpretation made from local timber with small cowrie shells for the eyes, it displays two human heads back to back , both with the Aripa traditional symbolic extended chins. The Middle Sepik region design of the water mark is carved all the way down along the back of the main, larger head.

This decorative piece is not older than 20 years and its not an authentic, historic piece, however is is an attractive, contemporary piece of art demonstrating the ever changing interpretation and design from the original traditional "working" item.