Analysis of Claims in The White Man Will Eat You

The case study presented in William E. Wormsley's The White Man Will Eat You! An Anthropologist Among The Imbonggu of New Guinea shows a complex culture with multiple layers, trying to make sense of a new world order that is being continuously (if somewhat slowly) pushed upon a tribe of people that desperately needs to find and maintain structure and balance in its society.

Wormsley does a marvelous job of portraying one of the guiding forces in this constant quest. Essential in this quest is the role of the "Big Man," a regional figure often found among tribal horticulturalists and pastoralists; the big man occupies no office but creates his reputation through entrepreneurship and generosity to others. Neither his wealth nor his position passes to his heirs. Yombi, a villager who is also one of the "Big Men," and the one with which Wormsley has the most direct experience, is a fascinating character that depicts through real-life village exchanges and occurrences exactly what the constantly-changing role of the Big Man is. Through Yombi and his interactions with villagers and Wormsley, it is also shown how essential it is for the Big Man to be adaptable.

Yombi, as depicted in Wormsley's study, is memorable because his actions are woven throughout the book and seem a constant, underlying foundation in the village life experience of Wormsley. Nearly everything pertaining to his experience in the Imbi village has Yombi involved in a rather direct manner. The most entertaining of these anecdotes (and the most heartbreaking) involved Yombi's role as a mediator, trying to balance the needs of both sides with the needs of the village and making sure that both sides walk away feeling as though they had gotten at least some justice. In the case of Kanambo, a small and shy child who felt unduly wronged by the premature bladder evacuation of Wormsley's kitten on her person, an actual Imbi trial was held in which Kanambo demanded justice from Wormsley due to the embarrassment and suffering that Beast, the cat in question, had perpetrated upon her.

Yombi, in his role as a Big Man - and carefully showing his fairness even in light of the fact that Kanambo was his daughter - showed both sides of the argument. While it was true that Kanambo was both embarrassed by the unfortunate bathroom habits of the cat and did incur the loss of a grass skirt in the situation, it was also imperative to point out the Wormsley - and even Beast - had been sleeping in many household all over the village due to his expert skills at ridding the abodes of rats. Yombi, weighing the favor provided and the damage incurred, came up with a solution in which Kanambo was compensated 2 kina for the loss of her skirt but made it publicly known the Beast, as an overnight guest, carried with him the responsibility of the house owner - no the cat owner - for any liability or damage done due to incontinence.

While the "Case of the Leaky Kitten" is amusing, a story sad to those not familiar with Imbi culture emerges with the tale of Peni, who was a favorite visitor of Wormsley. When it was decreed that she had left a spot of menstrual blood on the floor of his abode, Yombi came in to deal with the situation which was deemed a rather unforgivable offense. Her blood had " polluted [his] house... and threatened the health of each man present" (Wormsley 63). Yombi ordered the floorboards torn out and replaced and that no women unapproved by Yombi be allowed to enter Wormsley's house. Wormsley, having a problem with not being allowed to choose who entered his home, discussed - and even threatened- Yombi with leaving the village. Again, Yombi was called upon to come up with a compromise that would appease both the sensibilities of the threatened men and the autonomy of the angry anthropologist. Being an adaptable Big Man, and after much discussion, it was decided that women may enter the house, which would be pleasing to Wormsley. On the other side of the coin, Yombi declared that the women could only congregate on one side of the hearth, thereby limiting their polluting ability to one side of the room where they would be segregated from the men. As though walking a tightrope, Yombi carefully balanced the needs of both parties when coming up with a decision that would not only create harmony among the discord, but ensure his skill as a mediator and negotiator was recognized.

Yombi's role as a Big Man is not limited to that of a peace-keeper. In a system of reciprocity, Yombi is also the master of ceremonies at large functions called mokas where he displays not his wealth, but his ability to gather things from those who follow him as the Big Man. This is, again, a constant balancing act in which he calls upon the favors he has granted people for a favor on his behalf. In turn for their favor, he will owe them again in the future. This favor-granting and giving is not limited only to his villagers, however; it also plays out among the Big Men, who gift others with the wealth amassed from those he asks for the favors; the Big Men he "gifts" then owes him back. In this sense, the Big Man ensures a constant (hopefully) and flowing line of goods between both the villagers and the Big Men, perhaps making access to protein and other valuable much more feasible and creating a built-in "line of credit" for those who follow him when times may be lean and a big favor is needed.

Yombi, as depicted so gloriously by Wormsley, makes the concept of the Big Man real; his struggle in maintaining relations between those under his "guard" and among other Big Men shows how difficult to attain and maintain this position must be. By being a Big Man, Yombi has sacrificed almost all of his own personal wealth (or at least the appearance of personal wealth) for the good of the village, as it must always appear that the Big Man is poor and working toward greater wealth. As he is not elected or born into his position, he can be removed or usurped at any time, making the need to keep everyone happy and content a never-ending task. Only by being incredibly clever, ambitious and adaptable can the Big Man - and especially Yombi - keep his feet firmly entrenched in his position.

Sources
Wormsley, William E. The White Man Will Eat You! An Anthropologist Among The Imbonggu of New Guinea. Harcourt: New York, 1993.