The trobriand village: its chief and its architecture

Abstract

The Trobriand Islands are a small group of coral islands off the eastern tip of Papua New Guinea. The inhabitants are renown for their strong chief system, magnificent buildings, complex trade systems and sacred villages. These social and cultural systems, villages and buildings have remained unchanged to this day. Suggestions have been made that without a chief system such villages would not exist. This study examines the relationship of social and cultural systems to the architecture of the Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. It describes the chief system and its relationship to the village architecture. It also describes the chief system as the principal factor in shaping the Trobriand village and its architecture. To put Trobriand Islands in a wider perspective, a study of general settlements ranging from tribal village societies to towns and cities is done reviewing the three principal factors in most settlements: trade, defence and religion. Findings of the data indicated that trade, defence and religion existed in most settlements. From these factors, power and authority are gained by various people and are manifested in a range of architectural forms. In the Trobriands, these factors also exist and are found in a person, the chief. Power and authority are also manifested in a range of architectural forms. The identification of the chief as the main factor which shape the Trobriand village and its architecture is of considerable value to decision makers and the people of Papua New Guinea. Only when the chief is valued and respected can a Trobriand village and its inhabitants sense their true place. This awareness also provides a first step towards many undocumented and unique areas to be identified as a stepping stone to the architecture of the future generation of Papua New Guinea. Finally, it reinforces for the Trobrianders the importance of their chief system and gives guidelines for future developments.