Exchange and Debt among the Korowai of New Guinea: Ethnography of One Conflict

The article describes a conflict between the Korowai of New Guinea and a Canadian film crew. It unfolds in the context of the commodification of the Korowai culture, which is often presented as one of the last remaining examples of so-called ‘primitive’ cultures. The relationships between the parties are examined within the framework of economic anthropology through categories such as gift exchange, debt obligations, reciprocity, immediate and deferred return. The aim of the work is to analyze the Korowai understanding of exchange relations and the concept of debt in a conflict that highlighted significant differences between the local value system and the “modern” logic of a representative of Western society operating within the principles of neoliberal economics. Using the example of intercultural interaction, the paper shows how economic relation are established between the Korowai and outsiders, and how these differ from relationships within the community. Particular attention is paid to the role of debt obligations in the formation and structuring of social ties and how they relate to the core values of the Korowai-social autonomy and the pursuit of equality. The article is based on materials collected by the author during fieldwork among the Korowai in the Indonesian province of Papua from 2014 to 2016. The author declares no conflict of interests.

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