| Description |
This string figure represents a pig’s anus. When a pig is killed and brought to the village, it is tied on a pole. A fire is lit underneath in order to burn off the hair and the upper layer of skin. During this process the skin tightens, the teeth stick out, and the anus bulges in a very conspicuous way, often passing some faeces.
This string figure is sometimes called yay engamba, which is a slightly more offensive synonym of tokopa, but they are both best translated as ‘arsehole’. Anything connected with defecation, including words referring to anus, used to be a strict taboo among the Awiakay, to the extent that grown-ups still deny defecation (for the neighbouring Ambonwari a denial of defecation only applies to men; see Telban 1998: 37, 39). While both tokopa and engamba are words that are considered dangerous and offensive, it largely depends on the context in which they are used, and are perfectly acceptable when speaking of an animal. Their utterance, however, often invokes giggles among string figure-makers.
In making this string figure, the first design that emerges is kiakay kunda ‘the roots of wild pandanus’. Another move turns the figure into ‘pig’s aresehole’.
Images:
02: yay tokopa ‘pig’s anus’ string figure, final design
03: pig’s anus
Telban, Borut. 1998. Dancing through Time. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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