Contemporary Traditional Asmat Culture, part 2

''The Asmat Creation Story: Fumeripits  creates People from

Trees''By: Elizabeth Haro , February 7, 2012

Period 1, Culture and Geography Mr.Meza

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

first men's 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 sown a number of trees, carved them onto human figures, and placed them inside the

jeu.''

''However, since the sculptures were inanimate, Fumeripits was still unhappy. He then decided to create a drum, and chopped down another tree,

hollowed out the center, and stretch a piece 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 Fumeripits made people from trees. And the first people were Asmat.