Contemporary Traditional Asmat Culture, Part 2

"The Asmat Creation Story: Fumeripits creates people from Trees"

By: Sang Ly, 2-2-12Period 6, Culture and Geography

Source: Caglayan Ph.D Emily " The Asmat" InHeilbrunn Timeline of art history. New York: The Metropolitan Musuem of Art, 2000-

Http:www.metmusuem.org/toah/hd/asma/hd_asma.htm(october 2004) and Mr Ruben Meza,2012

According to Asmat Tradition: "Fumeripits was the first being to exist on earth, and he also created the

first mens ceremonial house called a jeu"

"Fumeripits would spend his days dancing along the beach, but after awhile grew tired of being alone."

"So he chopped down a number of trees, carved them into human figures, and placed them inside the

jeu"

"However, since the sculptures were inaminate, Fumeripits was still unhappy. He Then decided to

create a drum, and chopped down another tree,hollowed out the center, and stretched a peice of

lizard skin over the top

"As he began to play the drum, the human figures miraculously came to life, their elbows came unstuck

from their knees, and they began to dance.

This is how fumerpits made people from trees. and the first people were Asmat