My Bilum

by IPHIGENIA SOABA
(A poem about bilum)  

I love my bilum

Because it was given to me by my big sister 

And I love my big sister too.

My bilum is purple 

My favourite colour

I carry my bilum everywhere 

To school

To church or just to spin around

To show the beautiful colours it has.

My friends admire my bilum

And so do I.

I love my bilum.

A grandmother with her bilum carrying her grandchild. Image: Arosame Wawe‎ / 2017.

A girl with her bilum. Image: Aderf McFadden Wurr / April, 2017.

Two girls with their bilums for a selfie. Image: Anzzgillah Kewa / March, 2017.

A girl with her bilum. Image: Hela Wandarii Tunzup Nong / March, 2017.

A girl with her bilum. Image: Ray Ray Relvee / March, 2017.

A girl with her bilum. Image: Marielisha Ilai / 2017.

A boy with his bilum. Image: Dan Wairin / 2017. 

• Poem extracted from the book "Twisting Knowledge and Emotions: Modern Bilums of Papua New Guinea" edited by Nicolas Garnier. The University of Papua New Guinea, 2009.

Bilum

by STEVEN EDMUND WINDUO
(A poem about bilum in Tok Pisin - one of the PNG's national language widely spoken)  

Mak blong Madang em wanpla

Mak blong Sepik em natapla

Na ol Goroka tu igat mak

Na blo Hagen em no wankain

Olsem blo ol Mendi.

Yu laik save yu yet baim na karim

Yu laik filim yu ken karim wanpla

Em no hevi olsem saksak long karim

Em no hevi olsem taro long karim

Em no hevi olsem kaukau long karim

Em no hevi olsem stone long karim

Yu traim bai olgeta stail bai pinis

Kainkain kala na mak i pinis long skin

Ol han i wokim em i gat bikpla nem

Na save blo ol i winim olgeta

Na mekim kamap bilum

Madang designed bilums owned by a woman from Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. Image: Elizabeth Bonshek / 2007. 

Highway bilum made and owned by a woman from Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. Image: Elizabeth Bonshek / 2007. 

Pawa Post bilum made by a woman from Goroka and owned by a woman from Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province. Image: Carolyn M Doa / 2017. 

A girl proudly with her Madang style bilum. Image: Kay Chee / 2017.

Wasara Sepik bilums on sale in Port Moresby.
Image: Jen Jen‎ on PNG Kona Market / 2017. 

A bilum from Lake Kopiago, Southern Highlands Province. Image: Felix Talira / 2017.

• Poem extracted from the book "Twisting Knowledge and Emotions: Modern Bilums of Papua New Guinea" edited by Nicolas Garnier. The University of Papua New Guinea, 2009.