Bilum – a multifunctional bag in which everything fits

Mount Hagen, Papoea-Nieuw-Guinea, 1969, fotograaf onbekend

The bilum is there for everyone, from old to young. You can read what the bags from Papua New Guinea are used for and how they are made in this story.

Special looping techniques

At first glance these colourful bags seem ordinary. However, these string bags, or bilums, from Papua New Guinean (PNG) are made with a particular looping technique.

A bilum made from yarn bought in a shop. Mount Hagen, 1966-1994

Bilum is actually the name of the looping technique used for these bags, but also for personal adornment and clothes. These bags should therefore be called bilum bags, but the shorthand bilum is common

‘carryalls’ – a bag for large or small things

Originally made of natural fibres, they are now also made of wool, cotton or plastic - in all the colours of the rainbow - and in all kinds of patterns.

Trade goods

Papua New Guinea is a very culturally diverse nation. More than 800 distinct indigenous languages continue to be used. Even so, string bags were and are used nearly everywhere. In the past, the few areas that did not produce string bags acquired them through exchange networks and they were valued locally as imported items.

Symbol of the post-independence national unity of Papua New Guinea

The popularity and significance of string bags persists today and is also tied in with national pride and identity. Anyone from PNG will tell you that this kind of object is the most quintessentially Papua New Guinean thing there is.

Want to read more about how bilum is made?

Then read the full world story and watch the video.