The Asmat Festival will be held from 7 – 11 October 2024! A unique chance to witness a local festival filled with traditions. From canoe racing to wood carving competition and traditional dances, songs and exploring the food. It all comes together here.
The Asmat tribe were once feared as headhunters and shrouded in isolation. One of the most known stories is the disappearance of Michal C. Rockefeller in 1961, when he was on an art collection expedition in Asmat. His boat overturned and his body was never found. Recent evidence by Carl Hoffman shows that he was killed and eaten by one of the Asmat tribes. But don’t worry. Headhunting ceased in the 1970s paving the way for a vibrant resurgence of artistic traditions. Asmat is a haven for art collectors worldwide, drawn to its exceptional wood carvings and unique cultural expressions. Asmat have one of the most well known woodcarving tradition in the pacific. The most notable art can be found in the Michael C. Rockefeller museum in New York but also in the tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.
Join us as we uncover the distinctive treasures of Asmat.