Duk-Duk
Duk-Duk is a secret society, part of the traditional culture of the Tolai people of the Rabaul area of New Britain, the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea,
in the South Pacific.
The society has religious and political as well as social objectives. It represents a rough sort of law and order through its presiding spirit Duk-Duk, a mysterious figure dressed in leaves to its waist, with a helmet like a gigantic candle-extinguisher made of network.
The older natives play upon the superstitions of the younger; to secure the food they can no longer earn arrives regularly in a boat at night with the new moon,
and receives the offerings of the natives.
The society is much discredited and its practice has been dying out since around the start of the 20th century, but Duk-Duk dancers are now featured as tourist attractions.
For other tumbuang masks, please see the Rabaul Mask Festival gallery.
