Debating Stool (Kawa Rigit)

Unknown

19th century · Wood, paint, shell · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Within the central and most sacred area of the men’s ceremonial houses of the Iatmul people stands, or stood, a debating stool (kawa rigit), which is the focus of formal debates. All significant matters must be debated in the presence of the village’s most prominent ancestor, whose image appears on the back of the stool. Supernaturally powerful, the stools never serve as seats. Instead, they are rhetorical devices, used to emphasize important points during debates, which center primarily on religious matters. The name kawa rigit means seat of leaves. As each speaker begins, he takes up a bundle of leaves from the seat and strikes it. To emphasize each main point in his speech, he strikes the seat again or lays a portion of the leaves on it, concluding with a final blow. Always lively, Iatmul debates generally end peacefully, although they occasionally erupt into fights.

Artist

Unknown

Date

19th century

Medium

Wood, paint, shell

Culture

Iatmul people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Anonymous Gift, in memory of Rene d'Harnoncourt, 1968