Netbags ‘bilum’in New Guinea

It is usually women who make netbags. They make them in different sizes, to wear on the back, sling over a shoulder or hang around the neck. Both men and women use netbags in many ways.

Women use larger ones to carry vegetables from the garden, or carry babies. Because of this, the bags are seen as a symbol for a woman’s body, especially her womb.

Women also give them to female friends as gifts. Here you can see three different netbags. Click on the pictures to find out more.

In this section

• Exchange in New Guinea
• Valuables
• ‘Kula’
• Netbags

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