The koteka, also known as a phallocrypt or penis sheath, is traditionally worn by native male inhabitants of some ethnic groups in New Guinea. Made of gourds and shells, they cover and extend the male organ.
Koteka collection at the Tropenmuseum. Source: Wikipedia
The shape, appearance, and significance of the koteka vary between tribes and areas. It can be an accessory, a ritual tool, or have a practical purpose. Anthropologists have long speculated about its meaning.
What is a Koteka?
Despite their eye-catching appearance, these sheaths are worn by male tribesmen as a form of protection against the elements in New Guinea’s dense jungles. In the Dania tribe, owning multiple koteka is as normal as having a closet full of hats, pants, and shoes. Men choose from a variety of sheaths depending on the occasion, creating a unique wardrobe of sorts.
Koteka are traditionally made from gourds, woven fibers, or a combination of both. Some are simple and plain, while others are decorated with vibrant paint, feathers, and cowry shells-mirroring the colorful artistry found throughout New Guinea. Growing the perfect gourd is an art in itself. Villagers carefully cultivate them near their homes to ensure constant supervision. To shape them into long, straight forms, stones are tied to the plants during growth.
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The koteka is normally made from a dried-out gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, although unrelated species such as pitcher-plant (Nepenthes mirabilis) are also used. The koteka is held in place by a small loop of fiber attached to the base of the koteka and placed around the scrotum.
Many tribes can be identified by the way they wear the koteka. The koteka may be pointed straight out, straight up, or at an angle. The diameter of the koteka can also be distinctive to an individual tribe.
Peer group pressure defines how each tribe wears their gourds. Some men prefer their gourds pointing straight out while others want them pointed straight up, or maybe at an angle, or perhaps protruding in various odd directions. Some rather kinky tribesmen prefer twisted, curlycue gourds. Often they choose shorter gourds when working in the fields during the day and longer, more elaborate virilely-painted gourds for festive occasions or on date nights.
Koteka in Daily Life
It wasn’t until the 1960s that the West gained real insight into the tradition. British anthropologist Karl Heider spent over two years studying the practice firsthand. His research revealed that koteka were more than just protection-they were woven into daily communication.
Using the sheath almost like an instrument, tribesmen would flick their fingernails against it to create loud sounds, sending messages that conveyed fear, excitement, or other emotions. Some tribesmen even used the hollow space inside their koteka to store small valuables like money or tobacco! Even in cold and snowy conditions, many Dania tribesmen chose to wear only their koteka -despite the lack of warmth and, let’s be honest, pocket space.
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For Hubula (Dani) people of Baliem Valley, the shape of horim is associated with the social status of the wearer. A curved horim toward the front (kolo) is worn by Ap Kain, the leader of Dani confederation, a curved horik to the side (haliag) is worn by Ap Menteg (war general) and Ap Ubalik (healer or cultural leader). A straight Horim is worn by ordinary people.
For Lani people, the angle is the marker of status. If the kobewak leans to the left the wearer is Apendabogur (war general). On the other hand if it leans to the right, the wearer is an aristocrat or rich.
The koteka is made of a specially grown gourd. Stone weights are tied to the bottom of the gourd to stretch it out as it grows. Curves can be made in it by the use of string to restrain its growth in whatever direction the grower wishes; the koteka can be quite elaborately shaped in this manner. When harvested, the gourd is emptied and dried. It is sometimes waxed with beeswax or resin.
True kotekas as worn by the Mee consists of three types, long straight and curved used for festivities and traditional events, and short koteka for everyday use. They are worn using rope made from toya (Dendrobium utile) which is then knitted with tree barks fibres (usually from melinjo) to form the rope called koteka ma taboma. Unlike other koteka-wearing tribes, Mee men also wear other clothing items alongside their Kotekas.
The Dani Tribe
With a population of over 220,000 people, the Dani tribe is an ethnic group spread across the highlands of western New Guinea. Over the years, the tribe have maintained their ancient traditional way of life. They were first contacted in October 1920, during the Central New Guinea Expedition after the explorers spent over six months at the upper Swart River Valley farm, now known as Tali Valley.
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A Dani man wearing a koteka. Source: Wikipedia
Up until the visit from their first white Christian missionaries, a couple named John and Hellen Dekker, the Dani tribe were mostly into fetish rituals now, there are over 13000 Christians amongst them.
The Danis are predominantly agriculturists who deal mainly in sweet potatoes and pig farming. These are also the prerequisites for measuring the level of wealth of persons in the tribe.
The traditional Papuan tribal penis gourd (also known as a “koteka” or “horim” or “phallocrypt”) is worn by Papuan tribesmen to hide their family jewels, coins, and bills. Except for their gourds, these men go naked and have no pockets. They somehow manage to stuff their money into the very limited environs of their gourds.
Their villages are hidden deep within the interior reaches of the Baliem Valley located in the Indonesian state of Papua (formerly known as Irian Jaya). Papua shares a rather huge island with the country of Papua New Guinea to the east where warring “payback” societies abound to this day. When one tribe is “wronged” by another, someone must die to clear the debt. The deceased is always buried with his penis gourd prominently displayed.
If you are wondering how the virile warrior men of Papua keep their kotekas erect all day, no, they haven’t yet discovered the modern wonders of Viagra. Their feat is accomplished via simple laws of physics. The protruding tip of the gourd is tied with a thin fiber string that is looped around the upper abdomen. At the base of this elongated penile sheath, a small hole has been pierced with another fiber string that is looped and cinched rather tightly around a blatantly exposed scrotum. When all is firmly secure, you’ll hear the men speak in rather high-pitched tonality.
Outsider Fascination and Modern Challenges
To many visiting Christian missionaries and tourists, the koteka seemed exotic and strange. For nearly a century, they have been collected as souvenirs-often misunderstood and sensationalized by outsiders. Unfortunately, with modernization and shifting cultural norms, the tradition of wearing the koteka has been slowly fading away.
In the early 1970s the rather conservative Indonesian Muslim government launched “Operasi Koteka” (“Operation Penis Gourd”) to encourage the Papuan men and boys to wear shorts and shirts, which were more “modern.” But the Papuan tribesmen did not have changes in clothing, did not have soap, and were unfamiliar with the care of such clothes. So the unwashed clothing caused skin diseases.
And there were reports of men wearing the shorts as hats.
Eventually, the official (yet ill-advised) government campaign was abandoned. However, today Western clothing is required in government buildings and children must wear Western clothing at school.
When tourists trek between Papuan villages, distant drumbeats are often heard-a long-distance audible cue for the next villagers to prepare their wares ready for sale, items to be strewn along a well-trodden path. You might find a few gourds on display but beware of new versus used. A timely tip: If the gourd has a burnt tip, it’s a sure sign some warrior wore it while sitting too close to the campfire one chilly evening during a heated discussion when a half-coconut shell filled with potent homebrew was passed around and long tales of elongated, curly gourds were told.
Most tourists, especially male penis-gourd-souvenir-seeking adventure trekkers, don’t leave Papua without visiting one of the many tribal curio shops where exotic and curvaceous gourds are displayed. Naturally, these shops feature dozens of penis gourds that might satisfy tempting visions of wild, inebriated masculine cosplay back home or at least a quick thrill in the mirror. Gourds of all sizes, shapes, curvatures and weird configurations to satisfy just about any proclivity await your discretion but please don’t ask for a fitting room.
Phallocrypts are decorative penis sheaths worn in parts of New Guinea during traditional ceremonies. They are usually made out of gourds or woven fibers and decorated with feathers, beads, cowry shells, and small metal ornaments.
The namba worn by some tribes in central Vanuatu is closely related to the koteka.
I ask people of different ages and professions in my home region of Åland if they would like to create their own interpretation of a penis sheath. Those who participate often feel it is important that the koteka expresses something from their personality. It is heart warming to see their enthusiasm when they receive the freedom to shape a sheath for themselves. The result is often colourful, bombastic and a bit raunchy. The material may be the wife’s knitted wool sock, cherished Phantom comics from the wearer’s childhood, or bright ribbons.
The men in the pictures create a free interpretation of the phallus and give it a personal twist. The penis sheaths become extra-bodily manifestations that reflect a part of their internal self-image.
Making a sheath for myself, I use a rake with splayed tines. The tines spread like different paths.
Within Ripley’s collection of rare artifacts are a few oddities that might make visitors do a double take. One of the most surprising? The penis sheath-or koteka -from New Guinea.
